For many newly engaged couples, wedding planning seems like a dream—until you are faced with dozens of choices all at once. From the venue to the dress (and all of those little details in between), it’s hard to know where to start!
We are here to help. Our Best Of Bridal Picks list tells you who recent brides and members of their wedding parties recommend in 27 categories. Read below to see who made the list!
To place in our Best of Lynchburg Hall of Fame, a business, person, or place needs to have won a gold level award in a particular category for the majority of the last eight years—since VistaGraphics first launched the contest.
Flip through to see who is the best of the best in the region!
(Voting for the 2024 Best Of Lynchburg Awards begins July 27. Look for those winners in the January/February issue of Lynchburg Living!)
Bishop is the owner of JBohnBishop Mercantile, a boutique store located at Smith Mountain Lake that sells clothes, shoes, gifts, and accessories.
But if you told her several years ago that she would become a boutique owner, Bishop probably wouldn’t have believed you.
“I felt like I always needed this self-assurance [growing up],” Bishop said. “I would constantly ask my mom how I looked.”
However, what was once an insecurity has now become a ministry as Bishop uses her store— and her passion for cute things—to help women feel confident.
Bishop is no stranger of Smith Mountain Lake. Born and raised in the area, Bishop serves on the Board of Directors for the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce and has been a big advocate for helping other local businesses succeed.
While Bishop has been in the social retail space since 2013, she never expected to have a physical location.
“I moved into this 10 by 10 space in 2021,” she said. “It was really supposed to be my office, but we kept building relationships with people.”
From that space blossomed three locations: a main location at Halesford Center along with a location inside Gills Creek Marina & Lodge, and a market space in partnership with Evie’s at the Lake featuring local vendors from the area.
“I’ve really been just following God’s direction,” she said. “Having the Mercantile has brought me a lot of joy and we’re bringing a whole new vibe to the lake.”
When describing her store, Bishop jokes that it “definitely feels like it’s owned by a millennial.” Many of the clothes and accessories are fun, bright, and bold to help people express themselves through what they wear.
“We have the trendy items, but we also have staple pieces that anyone would love in their closet but also some options that can help people branch out to try new styles,” she said.
When she first opened the shop, Bishop knew that she wanted to fill a gap that was missing at the lake while also not taking away from the other businesses.
“Smith Mountain Lake has been mostly a retirement community,” she said. “We’re starting to see the demographic change, but we wanted to bring more people in to shop.”
But Bishop wanted it to be more than just another boutique. She wanted to make sure no one felt excluded—whether it’s a 25-year-old or retiree.
Bishop also wanted to make sure she was bringing in great plus-size options, something that stores seem to struggle with.
“It can be really hard to find cute plus-size clothing,” she said. “But I’m doing my research and trying to bring the best options because people want to feel confident in how they look and feel.”
Bishop said being more confident in her body is something she’s had to learn in this process. After gaining weight during the pandemic, she’s also juggled with her own insecurities.
“I am probably the heaviest I’ve been in my life,” she said. “But I can look back at pictures from when I was skinny and see how unhappy and miserable I was. It’s just amazing to see how God has turned it around and how I can encourage women.”
Bishop eventually was diagnosed with OCD, anxiety, and depression. She went on to start therapy and medication. The process helped show her how much God could turn her journey into something that could glorify Him.
“After I was diagnosed, my mom said she was sorry that she didn’t see that I needed help sooner. I always told her I felt like I was sick. Before I started the healing process, I don’t think I would have been able to do this,” she said. “But [with healing] I’ve been able to let go. Having the store is honestly like a celebration of how far I’ve come since one of the darkest seasons of my life.”
Healing has also helped Bishop become more hands-off with her business too. As a marketer and creative, Bishop said it can be hard to feel like you can let go of something that you’ve poured your heart and soul into.
“In marketing, it’s all about your reputation,” she said. “But I also know that I have the right people on my team to make sure I can go on vacation. I want my team to feel confident that they can make decisions without consulting me on every little thing.”
Letting go of the little things and not focusing on perfection is also the advice she’d give anyone who may want to open their own small business—or whatever they may be passionate about.
“Start with a brain dump,” she says. “That can be the best kind of therapy. Get everything out in the open that you’re scared about and ask yourself why. When you approach it that way some of these things become less scary and help you see that you can do it.”
It’s 2:30 p.m. on a Friday and shoppers mill about, hopping from business to business experiencing something new and unique to Lynchburg. That unique experience can transform a shopper into an environmentalist, a cooking student, or a foodie when they are at this one-stop destination that houses various businesses.
These new businesses share a 19,000-square-foot building that is part of a bigger picture for restoring Bedford Avenue. The building is located at 2204 Bedford Avenue.
“The goal is to revitalize Bedford Avenue. It is the bridge to downtown,” said developer Daryl Calfee. The 2204 Bedford Avenue property is just two miles from downtown Main Street.
Calfee, owner of Penny Lane Properties, a company that focuses on property restoration, noted that the area had been abandoned and no one had done anything to it. So they stepped in to change that.
The 2204 Bedford Avenue building was once a Dr. Pepper Bottling Company—one of many locations in and around Central and Southwest Virginia in the 1950s. Based on permit information from the Lynchburg City Planning Commission, the site was sold in November 2021 and a site plan for the property was approved in the Summer 2022.
The businesses that opened this spring at the location share the property—with guests having the ability to float from shop to shop via open interiors. The building’s facade features dark wood and charcoal paint, while the interiors each have their own unique charm and look.
From the outside, this location appears like a mini outdoor mall that supports a small food campus. The businesses that are nestled within are Truss, a restaurant that boasts a seasonal menu and crafted cocktails in an upscale casual dining environment; The Flour District, a community bakery with mouthwatering European-style pastries; Scratch Pasta Co., an extension of the already well-loved local pasta brand, where shoppers can purchase pasta, salads from the cold case, and curated kitchen wares; Rivermont Refillery, a zero-waste and sustainable store; and Rhodora, a specialty gift shop.
The staff at the businesses believe that the revitalization is a great opportunity for a pedestrian-friendly shopping and dining experience.
“It is such a good connector to Rivermont,” said Rivermont Refillery manager Anita Fontaine, referring to the proximity to Rivermont Avenue, which includes residential properties and Randolph College and is a main thoroughfare to downtown Lynchburg.
Fontaine noted that Rivermont Refillery, open since April, offers people the opportunity to make sustainable, environmentally friendly choices by reducing plastic waste. Shoppers can refill containers of products such as detergents, shampoos, and other household products versus buying them in single-use plastics.
Rivermont Refillery offers a wide range of nontoxic vegan beauty products including soaps, lotions, as well as laundry detergents and fabric softeners as well as other items ranging from jewelry to stationery.
Residents have expressed excitement over the revitalization, as well.
“I am really excited about it,” said longtime resident Hailey Anguire, who first heard about what was happening on Bedford Avenue through Instagram.
Co-owner and chef of Truss Wray Warner said there is a lot of hype around town about the area.
Warner and Jill Fees share ownership of Truss, which is currently 2204 Bedford’s only full-service restaurant. Walking into Truss feels like an experience in and of itself. Entering through the front door, guests get an immediate glimpse into the kitchen, where seasonal dishes and a rotating menu are thoughtfully and carefully prepared. There is also a 40-seat banquet room along with a 10-seat chef’s table, the perfect gathering space for intimate food and wine tastings, meetings, or special events.
“I am excited to have it open and be a part of the Lynchburg restaurant scene,” Warner, who has been a chef for 20 years, said. “I want it to be a place where people can come three times a week whether it is for dinner or for a snack and a drink.”
Other business owners see the new combined businesses as a plus, as well.
“We want it to be a community gathering space,” said Stephanie Fees, longtime chef and owner of Scratch Pasta Co.
Scratch Pasta Co. will offer different varieties of pasta for sale, like their fan-favorite Virginia Wheat Campanelle, Spicy Garlic MoHawks, and Lemon Basil Gemelli. Shoppers can also purchase freshly made pasta and pasta salads from Scratch Pasta’s cold counter as well as meticulously curated kitchen wares, from artisanal salts and spices to reclaimed fabric napkins to stunning cookware.
“The vision is to make dinner easy for people,” explained Stephanie Fees, who formerly was a professional chef in New York City and ran the kitchen at West Manor Estate for a number of years before launching into her Scratch Pasta venture full time.
Another stop within the 2204 Bedford space is The Flour District—a bakery that offers a variety of pastries and other foods ranging from cinnamon rolls and European-style muffins to breakfast sandwiches. They also offer a drink menu for specialty coffee, seasonal tea blends, and celebratory mimosas.
Maria Niechwiadowicz, pastry chef and CEO of The Flour District said there will also be cooking classes in the future.
“We hope that we will be both a place that neighbors can walk to as well as a destination spot in Lynchburg. We hope that customers will feel welcome and excited to invite a friend to share a pastry or beverage over a good conversation and ultimately be a point of connection,” Niechwiadowicz said.
The 2204 Bedford Ave. project is unlike anything Lynchburg has seen in our area in recent years, or perhaps in our city’s history. Within one space, an idyllic afternoon stretches out in front of you—starting with an espresso and pastry at The Flour District, meandering through the shops, and culminating in a truly local meal at Truss. Simply walking through the doors of any of the businesses within the campus, you get the understanding that something truly magical has taken place—not just the revitalization of an almost-forgotten building, but the revitalization of epicurean enjoyment in Lynchburg.
It all started when a young couple, Gabriel and Nikki Cook, came to Lynchburg full of ideas and great amounts of passion.
“I came to Lynchburg for a Doctorate degree in psychology,” Gabriel explained. “Then, [Nikki] inspired me to do catering, which then turned into a pop-up restaurant at Apocalypse Ale Works.”
The couple opened the Apocalypse location in early 2023 to great success. Located right within the Apocalypse footprint, they were able to deliver fresh seafood dishes—from fish tacos to crab cakes—directly to brewery-goers as well as hungry customers just stopping by for a quick bite.
Their business quickly grew and, by June, Maverick Seafood required a larger, more permanent location. They relocated to Forest Square in Forest.
Maverick Seafood prioritizes fresh, quality ingredients, despite Lynchburg’s land-locked position.
“The owner of Best Catch on Fort Avenue came out of retirement to help us,” Gabriel said of their connections to bring fresh seafood to this area. “He was able to give us advice and we were able to uplift him as well. For Best Catch, he was using nine plus distributors and knew where to get the best lobster for lobster rolls.”
Customers who dine at Maverick Seafood can expect build your own lobster rolls, crab cakes and crab cake sandwiches, fish or shrimp tacos, and quintessential accompaniments like hushpuppies, tots, and fries.
Each menu item can be customized to a customer’s unique preferences—from additional meat or veggie toppings to a comprehensive selection of delicious sauces. Maverick Seafood will also continue to iterate on their menu—offering new specials as seasonal selections change and different seafood becomes available.
In the future, Maverick Seafood hopes to offer a brunch menu as well.
Maverick Seafood’s hours and menu information can be found online at www.mavericknutritionandfoods.com or on Facebook.
It isn’t a surprise that when the name “Mitchell” is used in conversation within the Hill City, it is most often answered with one question, “As in Mitchell’s Grocery?”
With the opening of the beloved location’s doors in 1949 came residents from all across town to fuel their tanks, catch up with a friend, or grab some of Mitchell’s famous fried chicken. From their warm atmosphere to their warm meals, the spot became a home for any and all.
The grocery stood firmly at 1060 Lee Jackson Hwy. for sixty-five years until the closing of its doors in 2014. Today, most Lynchburg locals still recall both the authentic fried chicken and friendship that came from within Mitchell’s Grocery walls; a place that offered up much more than just a meal to anyone who went there for gas or grub. As of January 2023, however, the place has been made anew. Today, sitting within Mitchell’s Grocery Store’s footprint is Fleming Mountain Grill—a revamped version of the old, treasured space, now serving hospitality, smiles, and the best ribeye in town.
This chapter of the story began years ago after the Mitchell’s Grocery chapter came to an end. Somewhere in Wilson, North Carolina sat Roger Keeling, a baseball coach who had stumbled into a run-down steakhouse in a cinder block building. Despite the appearance of the restaurant, the food was impeccable. So impeccable that Keeling, upon returning to his home in Lynchburg, thought,
“We need something like that in Lynchburg.” Going back to the Wilson spot soon after, Roger knew. “The old Mitchell’s Store,” he said to his wife, Carolyn. “That’s where we need to put a steakhouse.”
After deciding to make those thoughts a reality, the Keelings knew they couldn’t be the sole operators. Enter Kevin Smith, an experienced butcher who was told of the idea and posed the question, “Are you interested?” He visited that same place in Wilson that sparked Roger’s vision and replied, “Yeah, I like it.”
The Keelings’ dream soon transpired from an idea, to purchasing the old Mitchell’s Grocery building in April of 2022, to finally turning it into the restaurant they imagined. With Roger’s background in construction, Carolyn’s superior design eye, and Kevin’s knack for “physically destroying things,” as Roger jokes, the process took from the end of May 2022 to the end of December 2022, about 8 months.
Throughout the renovation, they strove to bring a new look while keeping the roots of the old grocery there.
“Mitchell’s was such a centerpiece of our community,” Keeling noted. “We wanted to build around some of the existing building—to create a space where people would walk in the doors and feel like they were home.”
“Country elegance,” Keeling deemed the atmosphere of the space. “It’s meant to feel like you’re just outside of the city and heading into the mountains, like you’re sitting in our living room, having dinner.”
Due to Smith’s familiarity with meat and the Keelings’ previous ownerships of two restaurants outside of Virginia, the owners knew their place would be a steakhouse. But when the future opening of Fleming Mountain Grill was announced, there was one question on everyone’s mind: “Is Mitchell’s fried chicken coming back?”
The owners got connected with Kay Mitchell, the last owner of the store.
“We brought Kay on as a small partner to ensure we got the old chicken right,” Roger Keeling explained.
“It’s the real deal!” Smith chimed in with agreement. “There would be no way to do fried chicken without it being Mitchell’s.”
The original fried chicken isn’t the only staple on the Fleming Mountain Grill menu, however. They specialize in high-end meats across the menu, including rib eyes, tenderloins, and filets. Table cut by Smith himself upon ordering, the popular 1920 rib eye from Greater Omaha Packing Company is one of the top signature meals at the restaurant.
“It’s a very high-end steak,” noted Smith. He tells customers who order it, “The royal family of Dubai gets their meat from Greater Omaha Packing Company, so here, you’re eating like royalty.”
The excellence of Fleming Mountain Grill doesn’t stop with their menu, either.
“When people come in, we have a beautiful live edge bar,” Smith stated. “No one else in the Lynchburg area has that.”
Behind the bar is Mixologist and Bar Manager Michelle Simmons, who has been in the community for twenty years and excels in making craft cocktails.
Keeling and Smith emphasize how important each of their customers’ experiences at Fleming Mountain Grill is to them, and they aren’t shy to give credit to each of their thirty-two employees. They think all of their staff members are “in the right seat on their bus”; everyone is vital to the success of the restaurant.
Most of the staff is handpicked, for that matter. Keeling and Smith sang the praises of their team members, including Alice Ritchey and Tommaso “Tommy” Crouse, employees who have been in the service industry for years. The younger servers just starting out are equally important to the operation as well. Keeling and Smith emphasize how they are constantly working with and investing in the next generation.
Smith voiced that the restaurant is always progressing, and that clearly is rooted in the passion exuding from all parts of the operation: from behind the bar to front of house, from steaks to cocktails, from the staff to the owners.
“We’re barely eight weeks old [at the time of this writing], but we’re always learning and evolving,” said Keeling. “Our goal is to get better every day. We know we will occasionally mess up, but we want to strive to get better and better, so we become a long term staple in this community.”
Fleming Mountain Grill is the perfect blend of old and new, a mixture of nostalgia and novelty. It serves as a fresh breath of air and a commitment to the community that even when one door closes, another one opens—and sometimes, it’s a familiar door that calls you back home.
If it wasn’t for the mob, Strawberry Shortcake Bars and Chocolate Eclairs might not have been everyone’s favorite summer treat. And what’s a visit from the ice cream truck if you can’t get one of those to help you cool off?
That’s just one of the facts ice cream enthusiast Robert Jacobs (or Pops) loves to share when people spot him around Lynchburg with his authentic 1967 Ford Good Humor ice cream truck.
“It’s a neat story,” he said. “The mob demanded that Good Humor pay protection money and [their owner] refused. So, they blew up the factory that housed the trucks in Chicago and [the idea of an ice cream truck] gained national attention after that.”
After surviving a mob hit, it’s no surprise that the Good Humor brand has been around for more than 100 years. What started as an idea by Harry Burt in 1920 has turned into a multi-billion-dollar delicious empire.
Burt had come up with what he believed was a competitor to ice cream: a chocolate coated frozen treat. There was just one critique from his daughter: good, but way too messy to eat.
It was Burt’s son who first suggested the idea of adding a stick. That way, people could avoid getting their hands sticky or dirty. From there came more than 50 options of treats for customers to choose from.
But today only about 100 models of the Good Humor trucks remain—with one making its home in Lynchburg.
“Who Doesn’t Love Ice Cream?”
For Jacobs, the ice cream truck has always reminded him of great childhood memories.
“With five kids we didn’t really have a lot of money,” he said. “But when the ice cream guy came around it was a treat.”
It only made sense to eventually buy one as an adult.
“I had looked at several of them and finally did get one,” Jacobs said. “I figured it could be something I did once I retired, but I didn’t really do anything with it and ended up selling it.”
But after moving to Lynchburg to be closer to family several years ago, Jacobs decided to try again.
Finding an authentic one was not an easy task. While the trucks were once abundant, Good Humor sold its fleet in 1976 to focus on selling their ice cream in grocery stores. Many were lost, scrapped, or repurposed into other trucks like Mr. Softee.
Thankfully, Jacobs found another one and got it working once again. However, he didn’t stop there. If Jacobs was going to keep true authenticity of a Good Humor truck, he wanted to do it right. He invested in the starch white uniform and even the triangle hat.
“Starting out, ice cream was considered scary because it wasn’t sanitary,” Jacobs said. “That’s why, when you see photos of the uniform, it’s white because [Burt] wanted it to remind people of a doctor—which meant safe and clean.”
Being a Good Humor Man though is more than just a nice uniform. According to Jacobs, truck drivers had extensive customer service training they were required to do. Because of that it was considered a good job back in the ’30s and ’40s.
“That’s why they would come around and hand out ice cream from the curb,” Jacobs said. “It was about the personal face-to-face experience. In more modern ice cream trucks, someone hands you ice cream through a window instead of coming out of the truck.”
Jacobs said he found videos and articles online that helped him get the etiquette down. Then it was time to get it out on the road.
“We live in Boonsboro so I would just go up and down the block,” he said. “But it’s hard to hear because it doesn’t have a speaker with music. It just has a little bell that I ring instead.”
Now you can find Jacobs around at parks, special events, car dealerships, and even
house visits.
“People have always come up to me and told me what good memories it brings back to them,” Jacobs said. “I had this family call me and asked me to come to their house so their six-year-old could see the truck with his grandparents. So at 10 a.m. I pulled up to the house and they all came out and took pictures. It was really special.”
Jacobs said he never expected the response he’s gotten.
“It all started when someone posted a photo of me on Living in Lynchburg [Facebook group] with the truck,” he said. “I think it got about 300 shares and it blew up. People wanted me to come to their neighborhoods.”
This year Jacobs said he’s working on getting his two trucks up and running for the summer.
“It’s a labor of love,” he said. “The cost can quickly add up. But I love doing this and hearing about people’s good memories.”
So if you see Jacobs out with the truck this summer, the real question is, what should you order?
“Creamsicles, Strawberry Shortcakes, Chocolate Eclairs—those are my big sellers.”
Through educating Virginia residents on the importance of energy efficiency and providing them with the resources necessary to make it a reality, Earth Right Mid-Atlantic aims to serve the community with honesty and integrity.
Earth Right Mid-Atlantic, based in Lynchburg, provides a variety of different energy options for homeowners as well as small businesses. Founded in 2019 by current CEO and owner Corey Argentino, the business provides citizens across the state of Virginia with affordable energy options.
According to the company’s website, its mission is “that through honest and transparent conversations, we make energy efficiency improvements and solar solutions simple and affordable so that you and others can reap the benefits of smarter, cleaner energy.”
One of the ways in which the company aims to complete this mission is through installing custom designed home solar panel systems.
“The advantage with solar is it gives [customers] the opportunity to control their costs,” Argentino said. “Solar gives them an opportunity to produce their own power and also take advantage of the federal tax credits that are out there for the consumers.”
Despite the work that the company does with solar power, Argentino stressed that solar energy is only one of the services that the business provides to customers. Before the company looks at installing solar panels, workers first assess the home with thermal imaging to find any energy inefficiencies. Argentino noted that doing so helps determine how many solar panels will be needed while also finding ways to provide further long-term comfort to the residents.
“A lot of people, when they want to install solar on their house, just look at, ‘Hey, this is how many solar panels I need.’ But the goal is really to make the house energy-efficient first,” Argentino said. “By making the house energy efficient, you will need fewer solar panels and solve all of the internal energy issues. So, it’s really important to focus on the efficiency of the home when considering solar.”
For customers not eligible for solar options, the company provides other options for energy efficiency to ensure that they too are not wasting energy and operating efficiently in their homes.
With a wide range of both domestic and international energy companies available to homeowners, Earth Right Mid-Atlantic sets itself apart from the competition by properly informing customers of exactly what they are paying for and helping them select the best options.
“So many people are not educated when it comes to the solar industry and they’re being tricked and talked into something they may not be fully educated about,” Argentino said. “We take a different approach. We educate all of our consumers first. Education is key. We’ve got to make sure they understand what they are doing and that’s really important to understand what they’re getting themselves into, if it makes sense for them, or doesn’t make sense for them.”
“We take a different approach here than just ‘slam it down your throat, here you go.’ We give you all the options and all the resources upfront to make an educated decision,” Argentino explains.
“The whole point is for someone to have someone to talk to after the fact, to work with them and answer their questions,” Argentino added, noting that many of the company’s competitors have recently gone out of business due to a lack of communication with customers. “We put more of our effort in post-sale rather than we do presale because we believe that that’s the most important part. Our reviews tell the story.”
Earth Right Mid-Atlantic is currently headquartered on a 4.5-acre property on Timberlake Rd. and is finishing up construction on an educational, interactive solar energy showroom. Housed in a 19,000-square-foot building formerly used by Point Source Audio, this addition allows potential customers to see firsthand how the company operates as well as witness the power of improved energy options. Instead of simply being an impersonal company that consumers cannot interact with, Earth Right Mid-Atlantic makes it easy to visit them in person and contact them with any questions.
In addition to the sales side of the operation, Argentino also emphasizes giving back to the community and partnering with local humanitarian organizations. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Forest Youth Athletic Association, and others, Earth Right Mid-Atlantic provides a helping hand to those in need.
This can especially be seen through the business’s recent donation of a solar energy system to the Forest Youth Athletic Association.
“We have a lot of employees here in Lynchburg and we’ve created our own little community. We do a lot of stuff within the community,” Argentino continued. “We donate to a lot of charities within the town. We really believe in putting a lot of our resources back into our own community. We do a lot of that here. We sponsor a lot of events. We provide a good living for people that live here.”
As the company continues to grow and thrive, it receives greater recognition on both the local and national levels. In February, Inc.com announced that Earth Right Mid-Atlantic is one of the fastest growing businesses in the country. This accomplishment demonstrates the effort that the business has put into being successful.
By relying on homeowner education, the business continues to receive support in the Lynchburg community and beyond.
A hobby and passion become a business for one local woman
Photographer. Writer. Modern day treasure hunter.
Those are the words that describe Lynchburg local and vintage enthusiast Kelly Whitmore. But unlike some treasure hunters, Whitmore is more than happy to share her finds with the world.
As she watched her house fill with vintage finds over the years, Whitmore opened her Etsy shop and business, Golden Eclectic, where she sells curated goods that she finds at estate sales and thrift and antique stores.
“That’s why I went with the name,” Whitmore explained. “Not only does it represent the ‘golden era,’ but eclectics are more than just one type of item. It’s a hodgepodge of things.”
Whitmore started her business back in summer 2021 and sold her first piece on eBay.
“It was a [vintage] La Choy bottle in this beautiful emerald green,” Whitmore said. “I even had the original stopper with it, which was extremely rare, and I sold it to a collector who was looking for one in that exact color. I was so nervous shipping it because it was my first sale.”
Luckily the glass made it safe and sound—with the collector even commenting on her great packing ability.
But looking for vintage items is more than going from store to store. According to Whitmore, it also includes hours of research.
“The amount of time you spend looking up a certain piece depends on what it is,” she said. “If it’s something more common, it won’t take me long to look something up online. But sometimes with a certain piece, there won’t be anything on it.”
To Whitmore, it’s a learning process. Over the last few years, her sales have connected her to experts and collectors that have knowledge she can glean from.
“I’m definitely not an expert,” she joked. “When I see something that I love, I usually buy it on the spot and do the research later. But I’ve always loved history, so I love trying to find information on something.”
Whitmore says she’s drawn to glass objects, especially swung vases.
“When it comes to my favorite era, I’m torn between the art deco era and mid-century,” she said. “Really I just love a piece that I think is beautiful.”
And sometimes, those beautiful pieces happen to be worth something. At an estate sale in Roanoke, Whitmore fell in love with a $6 cubed fractal.
“The estate sale was actually for the man who was Debbie Reynolds’ ex-husband,” she said. “He had lived in Vegas and had all these interesting pieces he had collected over the years. I went home and found out the fractal was worth [hundreds of dollars]. And I only paid $6 for it.”
But for Whitmore, the true value of an item is the story it tells.
“When you go to an estate sale, you see what people have collected over the years and spent their time building a collection,” she said. “It can be sad sometimes, but in a way their legacy gets to live on.”
What she loves most about thrifting is not only finding unique items, but also that it helps encourage sustainability.
“I love that Gen Z is bringing thrifting back to the forefront,” Whitmore said. “We have mass produced as a society…but [thrifting] can be a great resource where you can find a great piece, but don’t have to add more to our environment.”
If you’re getting inspired to hit the local Goodwill, Whitmore offered some tips for those looking to start thrifting.
“Start with what you love,” she said. “Research the era you want to focus on. See what certain companies made and it can help start a pathway to finding great things. Support your local antique stores. Sometimes things may seem expensive because they’re being sold at market value, but you can still find some amazing, affordable pieces.”
As she continues to grow Golden Eclectic, Whitmore plans on posting to her Esty and social media accounts as well as hitting local markets. But her eventual goal is to focus on thrifting as a full-time gig.
“As an artist, I love this as a creative outlet,” Whitmore said. “I’m single with two dogs so I have the space to fill my house with all kinds of antiques. I would love to spend my time traveling around the country and filling up an RV going to estate sales.”
Whitmore also encourages others to explore their passion and creative endeavors because you never know where it might lead.
“Imposter syndrome is very real,” she said. “Admit you’re not an expert but give yourself grace [when starting something]. You’ll never be as great as you want to be, but you will be greater than you think.”
You can find Golden Eclectic on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/GoldenEclecticCo or on Instagram @goldeneclectic.