by Madison V. Fisler
Nov. 15, 2013. Though it has only been open about three weeks, Old World Galleries fine jewelers is already shining like a diamond on King Street.
“This location is just perfect for us,” said Charlie Travis of Old World Galleries.
“Everything just came together in perfect harmony.”
Old World Galleries, previously in Blowing Rock, opened up a brand-new location at 697 West King Street in Boone, where they are enjoying building lasting relationships with new clients as well as rekindling friendships with previous clients.
“It all started in 1979 with a few hundred dollars, our parents blessing and a dream.” Travis said.
“By the 1990s we had begun to buy and sell estate pieces and Persian rugs as well in Blowing Rock. We began to take courses, Joy took courses in Asheville in gemology and I took courses in jewelry making and we started to do custom orders. We loved the creativity involved in it.”
Ten years ago, Charlie and Joy Travis closed their Persian Rug and Jewelry store in Blowing Rock. After a decade, they decided to open back up again, letting beautiful downtown Boone be the setting for their success.
“We continued to have customers after leaving Blowing Rock calling on us to do jewelry work even in the interim period. I had my jeweler’s tools and bench at home, and we were still in the business even when we didn’t have a rental location.”
But it was the love of serving clients in the High Country that led Charlie and Joy Travis, and their faithful poodle Ozzie, to open up a new retail location in central Boone.
“We missed seeing our customers and developing relationships. We have had tremendous support from the community so far, and we are seeing our previous customers as well as brand new clients,” Travis said. “We have our loyal customers from Blowing Rock and even new generations of those families coming to us today.”
With the new location, Travis hopes to be able to reach new clientele and even reach out to students in the area to help them pick out special gifts for loved ones.
Old World Galleries specializes in buying antique and estate goods, repairs, appraisals and even custom jewelry.
“We can start with a concept, or a picture, or even a stone and create a piece around it. Creativity is the fun part.”
With the store’s recent move to King Street, Boone and the surrounding areas will have a taste of the finer things in life with this new fine jewelry retailer in town.
“Just getting the space ready to open was a lot of fun. We took a really cool, 80-year-old space and had a lot of fun polishing this stone,” said Travis.
Walking into Old World Galleries, a visitor is immediately struck with the beauty of the soft green walls and gold ceilings, which give the shop a calm and happy feel, according to co-owner Joy Travis.
“We wanted to create something special,” Joy said. “Green is soothing and back to nature. It is a happy place. This is our home away from home and we love being creative.”
Old World Galleries is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We’ve got some really, really cool stuff,” Travis said. “Folks just need to come and visit with us. We feel an obligation to take care of our customers, and it feels great to be able to do that again.”
Old World Galleries will host a grand opening celebration Friday, Nov. 22 from 2-5 p.m. Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson and Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence will be cutting the ribbon at 2 p.m. An open house will be hosted from 2-5:30 p.m.
Old World Galleries is located at 697 West King Street in Boone. For more information, give them a call at 828-264-6559.
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