Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130077
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Todd Smith is aiming for a Feb. 1 opening date for Golden Oldies, featuring custom, hand-crafted, antique and costume jewelry, antique furniture, artwork, Civil War items ``and just an array of collectibles,'' he said.
He will also offer shelves of rare books and about 5,000 records including 78-, 45- and 33-rpm records. He once worked for a radio business and repaired audio and video equipment, and so is able to find equipment to play even the old 78 rpm recordings.
``This is more fun,'' he said of the antique business.
``I threw away, when I moved here, probably twice this many books,'' he said, gesturing at several shelves of books lining one wall of his future store. He is remodeling the former Wedding Center building at 35 E. Main St., following the Wedding Center's move to larger quarters at 76 W. Main.
Many of the books, such as a 1923 volume on architecture of classic homes, are from single printings and probably available nowhere else. His oldest book dates back to 1828 ``and it's in mint condition,'' he said.
Smith, 33, is originally from Tampa, Fla., but moved to Blacksburg about three years ago after his parents had moved there to retire.
He had a store in Blacksburg for a while, but said he was attracted by the business revitalization effort under way in Pulaski. ``They're really trying to build the community here into an antique center,'' he said. ``I feel good about the community.''
Smith said he plans to hire senior citizens in the Green Thumb program and from Pulaski's senior center, and train them in working with antiques.
His interest in antiques dates back to when he was 15 years old and a man who collected glass spent time showing him the different kinds and explaining how each was made.
He became so fascinated that he began collecting glass himself. ``I find that most of the other areas in the collecting are just about as interesting,'' he said.
by CNB