By ABIGAIL ALDERDICE, The Democrat
Nestled at the east end of Main Street in downtown Nashville, Redbud Terrace has several new occupants who are ready to contribute to the vibrant community around them.
Dubbing it “Home Décor and More,” Jeff and Mona Robinson purchased the complex in March of this year and opened their own shop — Robinson’s at the Redbud — May 2. Unique pieces and home goods don the walls of the rustic space, which invites customers in with its immediate coziness.
“We basically treasure-hunt,” Jeff said, “look for unique finds, good deals that we can pass on.” The Robinsons go to auctions, estate sales, closeouts and any other avenue that may produce special finds. They even have a trailer full of goods ready to bring into the shop when the space allows.
Owning and operating the shop is a collaborative effort for the couple — Mona refinishes pieces, designs and purchases, and Jeff has his “guy stuff”: gas, oil and hot rod memorabilia. “Cars, Chevy, Ford,” he continued, “it’s just stuff we like to do.”
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]The Robinsons have always enjoyed reselling and have had the “entrepreneurial spirit” for more than three decades. Robinson’s at the Redbud is their fifth business in the past 35 years. After Jeff served in the Army, the couple has owned a hobby shop, consignment store and antique mall.
Roughly a month after Jeff retired from AT&T and Mona overcame health issues, the couple bought the Redbud Terrace complex and moved to Brown County from Clayton, where they currently live only two days a week. He had said to her, “’When I retire … wouldn’t it be nice to have a place down in Brown County?’ Because we loved it here.”
Changing their focus from solely antiques, they decided to sell home goods. Mona is able to add her own creative spin to what they sell in the refinishing of furniture and signs, adding a personal touch to the items in the space.
Creativity is easily found in the complex, with the unique goods at Robinson’s at the Redbud, and also the individuality provided by the two new businesses next door.
CHARMING FINDS
Pam Durbin opened Charming Finds May 9 — a small shop filled not only with things she may find at yard or estate sales, but also handmade signs and candles. “I’ve always liked … handcrafting things,” Durbin said. “I love to paint and buy something and either paint it or embellish it.”
In addition to working at a law firm downtown Indianapolis, Durbin has a creative outlet in her store Fridays through Sundays.
“I guess it started years ago. Me and my cousin did yard sales all the time,” she said.
Durbin had an antique booth in the mall which the Robinsons owned. “When they invited me to do this, I was all for it. It was exciting. I’ve always wanted my own little spot.”
Durbin’s candles are a focal point of the shop. They’re locally made from 100 percent soy. The shop is filled with a variety of sweet fragrances. “I’ve always loved a candle,” said Durbin, who has been making them for roughly 10 years. She makes them with premium fragrances in her kitchen in Martinsville, also crafting soy melts and shots, which customers can burn in melters.
Durbin has enjoyed the community she has found within the complex, other storefront owners visiting with each other outside in the inviting courtyard.
This welcoming atmosphere she has found in the block is not limited to the confines of their parking lot, but also in the Brown County community as a whole. “I like meeting the people here. I like to get to know people,” she said.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Customers visiting Redbud Terrace can not only find unique goods in home decor and handcrafted candles, but also in the high-quality resale boutique, New Beginnings.
Ruth Ellen Evans opened the shop in July 2018 after realizing there was a closet full of clothing in her home that had never been worn. “I said, ‘You know, it would be nice to have a re-sale boutique in the community.’”
Wanting to save Nashville natives the time of traveling to Columbus, Bloomington or even Greenwood, Evans decided to begin with her own clothing. “Then it just grew, rapidly, people selling their clothes to us.”
Patrons are not only able to come in and find high-quality clothing at a reasonable price, but Evans also works with those who wish to sell to her as well.
“We do take donations. You know, some people will bring and just donate. But most people, you know, we give something for it. … We do like to bless those who are bringing in (items) so we can bless those coming in with nice clothing at a low price.”
Evans is no stranger to the community, having been born and raised in Brown County, coming from a line of entrepreneurs and raising her two daughters in Nashville. She has managed several retail shops and is now a banker, with New Beginnings as her retirement plan where she works on weekends.
“I really wasn’t going to open it right now,” Evans said. “I was going to wait another year and a half … but you know how God works.” The space became available and was exactly what she wanted, and the rest fell into place. “It came about, the fixtures all came about … and it just went, ‘Boom!’”
The works of local artists can also be found in New Beginnings. Barn quilts, handmade aprons, Lost Lake Studios bookmarks and Dixie Ferrer pieces decorate the store.
“I want the community to know that I’m here to help,” Evans answered, when prompted as to what she wants others to know about her business.
“I’m here to bless those who maybe can’t afford really nice and expensive clothing, and to bless the community with buying things. They won’t have to travel 45 minutes to get there.”
Not only do the three shops feature artwork, furniture and clothing that have lived lives before they came to Redbud Terrace, but each of the owners wishes to play a significant role in the community for not only the tourists, but for locals as well.
“We look forward to being an active part of the community,” Jeff Robinson said.
The Robinsons have joined the Chamber of Commerce and welcome the nickname of “townies,” because it means they are a part of the town.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what we can do. We wanted something that could cater to the community as well, not just the tourists … helping Nashville achieve what they want to achieve.”
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Redbud Terrace, 146 E. Main St., Nashville includes the following new businesses:
- Robinson’s at the Redbud, Jeff and Mona Robinson — [email protected], 317-292-8114.
- Charming Finds, Pam Durbin — Facebook: CharmingFindsByPam, [email protected]
- New Beginnings Boutique, Ruth Ellen Evans — Facebook: NewBeginningsBoutiqueNashville
They join three businesses that were already in the complex:
- Health for “U,” health store — [email protected]
- Austin Barber Shop, Lindsey Austin — 812-318-5553
- Goldilocks Salon, Christina Hash — 812-327-5005
