Five Years of Finding Hidden Gems: A Look Inside Village Antiques & Art
Michelle Forth
Q: What’s something you think people don’t see behind the scenes that’s important?
A: “The passion we have for our jobs and for helping customers find exactly what they’re looking for. We work hard to create a memorable experience in our store. A lot of our visitors are travelers; sometimes they find a hidden gem here, and it makes their whole trip more special. We also put a lot of care into keeping the store clean and making sure both our customers and our dealers have a positive experience.”
Q: What’s your hope for the next 5 years of RenewAll?
A: “Continued growth with new dealers and increased sales. Longevity for the store. I hope we keep doing what we’re doing, but with even more participation from new vendors.”
Q: What does community revitalization really look like to you now?
A: “I moved here in 2014, but before that, I was just a shopper who visited often. I’ve seen a real difference since RenewAll took over the shop; every time I walked in, you could see small improvements. Central City as a whole feels more welcoming now. The Gazebo Park has new sculptures, and more murals can be found throughout the neighborhood. People feel safe and encouraged to spend time here, which is great for local businesses. You really can spend an entire day here now; start at Cicada, make your way through the shops, and finish with a picnic at the park with a to-go meal from our two local restaurants.”
Euthimia “Efi” Gianna
Q: What first drew you to RenewAll or this work?
A: “Even in a big city, everything is very neighborhood-like. You can find little communities like 14th Street everywhere that I am from. Everything is within walking distance the community supports one another. This is what I am used to. When I first came to the United States 8 years ago, I was a little overwhelmed by how big and far away everything was, especially here in West Virginia. When Joel showed me the street, I got very excited because it had that same vibe that I was used to in Greece. It clicked inside me that this was the place I wanted to be. When I first visited, they were looking for employees, and it felt like a sign.”
Special note from Efi: “I would not be here without Lauren. I didn’t know anyone in the community, and during my interview for Village Antiques, she welcomed me with open arms. She treated me with respect and recognized who I was as a person. Denise is another person as to why I stay. Denise has also taught me so much and continues to teach me ways to multitask and get things done for the betterment of the entire community.”
Q: What’s something you think people don’t see behind the scenes that’s important?
A: “People sure don't see or maybe they feel it in the afterwards, but we give a lot of energy and love daily. When you do that, no matter what you're doing, it shows. That passion gives a different vibe and always attracts the right people to come back to your business and to this community. All the employees and people connected here care and give so much love. People just see a shop or booth, but to make that moment happen, you have to make something beautiful and give it back to share with others.”
Q: What’s one challenge RenewAll has overcome that you're proud of?
A: “All these years of working here, what I have seen is that RenewAll is like causing a domino effect in the most positive way. We just started to renew ourselves, and it hasn't stopped all these years. From renovations to the building, how we treat each other and our customers, the dealers we have, the way we promote ourselves, and what we offer. It just keeps getting better and better, and now you can see other shops doing this too. I believe it's something RenewAll has inspired across the community.”
