Have you heard the news??? This is a small town you know so it seems everyone has heard the rumor going around at one time or another. Yes it is true!! My husband and I purchased a historic building downtown Newnan.. the future home of Gillyweed!
We started our search on a whim last November. When I sold The Vintage-Flea in 2010, I signed a non-compete contract which will end this coming May. I've always known that I wanted my own store again and owning would be better than renting this time around. One day my friend Noelle and I were eating lunch and decided to check out a building for sale across the street.. did I mention she is the BEST REALTOR EVER. (click here to see her website) The building was beautiful but the inside was divided up into many small offices.. so much needed to be done to gut the inside and it was priced out of my comfort zone. As we left the beautiful building, we saw the runt on the block for was for sale. Honestly it had been for sale for over 1 year but it is so ugly, nobody even looked at it. As soon as I went inside I knew I was home. So......
I am now the proud owner of the ugliest buildings in downtown..seriously it is Fugly!!
With that in mind, I will be doing a series of blog posts over the next few months about the highs & lows of renovating a building from the 1900's. What is behind that nasty 70's aluminum siding?? What is under that dreadful awning?? Lord only knows! I can show you my first purchase for the future store was this amazing door handle from North Coast Driftwood. I purchased it back in November and have been looking at it everyday with anticipation.
So read along.. follow the progress and hope to see you for opening day in May.
Enjoy!!
Congratulations,such exciting news! I can't imagine the work that will have to be done, and the frustrations you'll experience along the way. But in the end you'll have a place that is beautiful and all yours.
ReplyDeleteI live in a small town of under 3,000 people, and the downtown is mostly bare. One family in town sells stuff from a warehouse, and buys up empty buildings and puts metal fronts on them. The town is becoming ugly, and nothing like it used to be, which makes me sad and angry at the same time.
I absolutely love the door handle you purchased. It's little touches like these that make the place special. I'm looking forward to watching your building be transformed.
Congrats! I can't wait to see the progress and I am so glad that you are opening another store downtown!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited, Valerie!!! CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is exciting! I can't wait to see the transformation and walk in on "Grand Opening"!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm your new neighbor--looking forward to seeing the transformation! Let us know if you need anything.
ReplyDeleteHi Anne.. are you at the Accounting office? You guys are making me nervous.. need to hit opening day out of the park!!
ReplyDeleteNo No No - not fugly!!!! It has major potential and I know you will make it fabulous! I can't wait to see how you transform it. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, we're the accountants next door! Our office shouldn't make you nervous--we're just boring old accountants! You're an artist--I'm sure it will be beautiful--no pressure, of course! : )
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Looking forward to seeing the transformaiton!
ReplyDeleteValerie - I had NOT heard... I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited for you!!!! I will follow along here and please let me know if there is anything I can do to help! Good luck... Thanks for sharing... have a terrific Thursday
ReplyDeleteI'll join you and "DRINK TO THAT"...can't wait to read all the details from start to opening day!! Best of luck and congratulations Valerie!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry the look of the building is not to your liking. But please know the building was much loved and was used well. Instead of spending the money to make it pretty, we used our funds and our energy to serve the at risk families of this community. Our focus was on the people who walked through our door, not the door itself. Getting rid of an ugly awning just did not seem that important to us.
ReplyDeleteDonna the inside of the building is a dream..seriously you guys did an amazing job restoring it! (I'll post pictures soon of the inside) There is no doubt you provided at risk families a safe haven, even if for an hour or two. For a future retail boutique though, the outside needs to be brought into the 21st century and that means taking down the aluminum siding and wooden awning. I hope that when we are finished you will approve of our changes. I'll take very good care of your baby.
ReplyDeleteJust as the building served those at risk families with love, so will the boutique serve another population with love. The building itself will be loved as it stands proudly for many more years with many uses.
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