Well, it finally got to us. The huge yellow cranes feeding dozens of dump trucks have rolled past the Tattered Suitcase and across 10th Street. For over a year we have watched as it slowly headed our way. We heard the wails of dispair from other shop owners and businesses as they saw their sales and activity drop to next to nothing (and sometimes to nothing).
On Thursday, April 29th, they closed 10th Street. We had a record sales day. Of course, there was a bit of a bonus due to a huge online sale of a rare book, but the instore volume was approximately 4 1/4 times normal. Great sales were repeated on Friday. Saturday was nearly double the norm. And so on for the next week. WIth the exception of one day when sales were dismal (about 18% of normal), we have been at or above normal sales levels every day. Makes no sense at all.
If you are headed our way, you will need to skip Calder and come down McFadden or North. We are just one block from 11th street, turn right and come right to our parking lot. While there you can grab a bite at Rao's, watch the construction work (it is interesting) and come on in for a treasure or two.
There's lots of new stuff to see including a new batch of Yellow Box shoes and a couple of new Angels from local artist, Shirley Patxot's "Angel's Among Us" series.
Hardly a day goes by that at least one dealer if not five or six is bringing in new merchandise. We always have something new to see.
Just in case you have missed it, one of our dealers, Shirley Patxot, is also an artist. Is that ever an understatement!
George Irvin Wentz, 64, of Beaumont, passed away Saturday, March 6, 2010. A native and resident of Beaumont for most of his life, George was born September 27, 1945, and was a well known artist and poet. He also worked as a florist in Beaumont, Nederland, Austin, Texas and California. George was a graduate of South Park High School and studied art at Lamar University under the late Jerry Newman. He was a long time member of The Art Studio, where he taught art classes. For many years, George was an active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Beaumont. He was an expert on antiques, and during the 1980's, he wrote a regular monthly column on antiques for the Antique Collector's Guide. His parents, Esca Ray Wentz, Sr. and Annie Wentz preceded him in death. Survivors include his brother, Ray Bubba Wentz and his wife Jennifer of Ben Lomond, California; aunt, Bertha Morgan of Wildwood, Texas; numerous cousins; and many friends in the Beaumont and Southeast Texas Arts Community. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 13, 2010, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A Christian Vigil will be held 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 12, 2010, at Broussard's. Memorial contributions may be made to The Art Studio, Inc., 720 Franklin, Beaumont, Texas 77701. 