When young 13-year-old ballerina Merci Higdon walked through the doors of Toptoe Dancewear in Baton Rouge, she was greeted by classical music, chandeliers and a professional ballet performance on TV. Higdon, who played Clara in “The Nutcracker — A Tale From The Bayou,” was there for a shoe fitting.
Owner Londyn Atkinson Davis, who took over the store in 2024, welcomed her in by name.
From pointe shoe fittings to shopping for dance clothes, Toptoe Dancewear has been a dance retail institution in Baton Rouge since 1985, when Shirley Brock opened it.
“It’s such a blessing. It’s so fun. And you’re still a part of dance,” said Davis, who was a Golden Girl at LSU, of running the store. “But everybody’s happy. They all come in here for the same thing. They want to get dressed up. They want to get their new shoes. This is the fun part.”…