New businesses crop up in Wythe

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Pawn brokers are becoming major lending institutions for individuals needing small amounts of cash in a hurry. Two such businesses have set up shop in Wytheville recently.

“We’re in the business of selling money, as our owner says,” said McKinley Craft, manager of Gardner’s Family Pawn Shop at 315 Grayson Road. “Our customers are from across the board – all ages, races and gender. Ninety-eight percent of them do come back and pick up the items they pawn.”

Brandy Frank, co-owner of Wytheville Pawn-N-Coin at 130 W. Main St., added, “We don’t want to keep people’s stuff. I’d say 65 to 70 percent of them take their things back. We hold the items longer than the state says we have to if the person keeps paying on the loan.”

Guns, electronics, jewelry, guitars and tools are the most prevalent pawn items. Their owners, who must be at least 18 years old to pawn, receive cash based on a percentage of the item’s value.

The person pawning the items signs an agreement with the lender to repay the amount loaned. According to law, the owner has 30 days to pay the loan and interest and another 15 days before the item can be sold.

Having all the merchandise, owners, contracts and payments on computerized records enables both businesses to keep up with their inventory. It also makes it easy for the pawn shops to provide state-mandated daily reports to the local police.

Gardner’s Family Pawn Shop

Since opening in Wytheville in October 2011, Gardner’s Family Pawn Shop provides pawn loans and retail sales. It is stocked with a variety of weapons, electronics, CDs, jewelry, musical instruments and tools.

“We’re doing well,” noted Craft. “We’ve been well-received by the community.”

Jimmy and Linda Gardner own the business with similar stores in Hillsville, Pulaski and Galax.

“We came to Wytheville because of feedback from our customers at the other stores,” Craft pointed out. “There was a lot of interest in us coming here. We gradually found a building.”

Ted Brown and Billy Cole are the store’s two other employees.

Business hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 227-0444.

Wytheville Pawn-N-Coin

Watching Brandy Frank wheel and deal at Wytheville Pawn-N-Coin is more entertaining then seeing Wayne Brady on Let’s Make a Deal. As co-owner (with her husband, Ron) of the recently-opened Main Street business, she wants not only to make money but give customers a break.

For example, earlier this week a couple from West Virginia were visiting the store for the first time. The man was eyeing a weed trimmer priced at $95.

“I’ll give you $50 for it,” he said.

“I’ll take $65,” Frank responded.

The man bought the trimmer after taking it outside on the street and starting it.

“Our prices are not set in stone,” Frank noted. “We can negotiate. I know how much we have in an item and I know the least we can take for it.”

While the Franks deal with all kinds of pawned items, they are major gun dealers. The store carries various lines of new and used weapons.

“We have everything from Colts to Rugers,” Frank said. “We do it all. Guns are big sellers.”

The Franks operate similar stores in Pulaski and Radford. They opened the Wytheville business at 130 West Main St. last August.

“We wanted a downtown location,” Frank said. “Wytheville’s downtown rivals Radford in traffic. We love it here and the other businesses have been supportive.”

In turn, the Franks have been generous to the Fort Chiswell High School After Prom Committee. They donated a rifle and scope to the organization as a raffle item for a fundraiser.

“One of our employees has a student at the school,” Frank said. “We believe in helping the community whenever we can.”

Joe’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

When Joe and Kristi Posillico were looking for a location for their new family restaurant, the Pulaski couple immediately thought of downtown Wytheville. He knew all about the town having worked five years as an officer for the Wytheville Police Department.

“I’m a downtown person,” Posillico said. “Wytheville has an exceptional downtown. There’s a great traffic flow and ample parking. I like all the local businesses.”

Joe’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant opened over two weeks ago at 195 West Main St. It features a variety of specialty dishes, pizzas and sandwiches.

“Everything is homemade in-house,” Posillico noted. “My dad is from Italy and he’s one of our cooks. We make all our sauces. We make everything fresh. Nothing is frozen.”

A buffet bar was added recently. Bands to play on weekends are being considered.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. It has a seating capacity of 150.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Orders over $8 will be delivered.

Blueberry Hill

An unique outlet for local artists and crafts people is now open at Blueberry Hill, 177 Tazewell St., Wytheville. Paintings, handmade accessories (purses, hats, scarves and jewelry), stained glass items, lotions and creams, hand carved ducks, wood rolled pieces and more are featured.

“We’re not Tamarack or Heartwood but we are providing a place where people can see the work of local artisans,” noted Mike Kolesar, who owns and operates the business with his wife, Johnie. “We would like to add CDs from local bands or individual musicians.”

Since Mrs. Kolesar has chaired the Share the Art Show for the Wythe Arts Council’s Chautauqua Festival-in-the-Park for four years, she has many connections with local arts and crafts people. She invited some of them to put their work in her shop.

“Both of us enjoy the arts and crafts talent in the area,” Mike Kolesar said. “We found this location among the other specialty shops here and when the opportunity came up we took it.”

Among the artisans’ work at Blueberry Hill are potato bakers by Lea Hutchinson of Wytheville, wood turning items by John Bloomer of Wytheville, stained glass by Connie Martin of Wytheville and Paul Hanes of Radford, wood carvings by Tommy Stowe of Wytheville, body care products from Beagle Ridge Farms in Rural Retreat, candles by James and Crystal Gee of Backwoods Candles in Max Meadows, custom made teddy bears by Jan Nielsen of Ceres, paintings by Dan Moore of Wytheville, hand-painted jewelry by Freeda Latham of Wytheville and work by Kelly Lee Buckler of Wytheville.

Business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The telephone number is 228-2407.

Family Thrift Store and More

A variety of clothing, shoes, toys, knick-knacks, furniture, household items and collectibles are available at Family Thrift Store and More at 565 East Main St. in the former Wytheville Telecable building. The business opened Jan. 2.

“People are looking for a bargain,” pointed out Patricia Porter, who co-owns the business with her husband, Nelson Porter. “They want things they can afford. We’re trying to help out the community by the prices and the things we have.”

The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The phone number is 227-0708.

Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com.