There's no place like Back Home
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Antique collectors, arts and crafts lovers and children alike are sure to find something they love at Back Home, a Hillsboro antiques and collectibles store.
Back Home, which owner and operator Betty Walker calls a "browsing shop" due to its wide range of products appealing to all interests, opened in December 2010.
Originally from New Vienna, Walker moved to Richmond, Ky. to attend Eastern Kentucky University in 1974, where she majored in corrections. After college, she settled into a career in the prison system in Richmond, retiring in 2008.
Walker said she had always wanted to move back to her hometown to be near her family, so upon retirement she returned to New Vienna, and the opportunity of opening up her own store presented itself almost immediately.
"I came home on a Friday, the building was auctioned Monday and I bought the store," Walker said.
After purchasing the store, Walker started the long and as-yet-unfinished remodeling process, including tearing down and rebuilding the back of the building, renovating the storefront and remodeling the upstairs apartment.
In addition to Walker, her mother and sister help out with the shop, and they assisted her in coming up with the business name.
"We were toying with names, and I said, 'Well, I'm coming back home, so what a perfect name,'" Walker said, adding that the name is also appropriate because she sells items that remind people of their childhood.
Walker's wide range of products include a variety of locally made items. There are numerous quilts made in Highland County. Five local artists sell their oil paintings, and a Berrysville photographer mattes and frames her photos and sells them in the store. Walker also sells hand-tatted note cards and envelopes.
There are also a variety of locally-made crafts and gifts, including candles made in Leesburg. There are three jewelry makers from Highland County, as well as Walker's own sister, who offer their products. Walker's sister also makes handmade beaded eyeglass chains, patterned and beaded headbands, painted Ohio-interest signs and barn quilts.
"I'm really trying to promote Highland County," Walker said.
Additionally, Walker sells her own homemade products, including her line of greeting cards and gift tags, all handmade, and linen spray.
Among Walker's most unique gifts are her FFA pocket knives, which come in a variety of colors for boys and girls, and her 4-H pocket knives.
"I am the only place in the world where you can get FFA and 4-H knives because I have them made," Walker said.
Walker has also ordered special Festival of the Bells knives and sells a variety of Masonic and Eastern Star knives.
In addition to her locally made gifts, Walker sells popular brands such as Longaberger and Crabtree and Evelyn as well as some Cincinnati Reds merchandise. She sells pottery, a variety of antique lamps and unique hand-carved walking sticks. She also sells "party purses," purses/clutches appropriate for proms and formals. For children, she sells a variety of doll beds and furniture, some toys and a limited-time-only selection of children's dresses handmade in Laurel County, Ky.
"My inventory changes frequently," Walker said. "I get new things in all the time."
When asked about the experience of operating her own business for over six months, Walker had nothing but good things to say.
"The response has been very good," Walker said. "I've been really pleased."
"I'm trying to project friendliness for Hillsboro, have my park benches out. I want to promote Hillsboro as being friendly."
Back Home is located at 112 East Main Street, Hillsboro. The store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and Thursdays by chance. For information, call Walker at (859) 200-3424.[[In-content Ad]]
Back Home, which owner and operator Betty Walker calls a "browsing shop" due to its wide range of products appealing to all interests, opened in December 2010.
Originally from New Vienna, Walker moved to Richmond, Ky. to attend Eastern Kentucky University in 1974, where she majored in corrections. After college, she settled into a career in the prison system in Richmond, retiring in 2008.
Walker said she had always wanted to move back to her hometown to be near her family, so upon retirement she returned to New Vienna, and the opportunity of opening up her own store presented itself almost immediately.
"I came home on a Friday, the building was auctioned Monday and I bought the store," Walker said.
After purchasing the store, Walker started the long and as-yet-unfinished remodeling process, including tearing down and rebuilding the back of the building, renovating the storefront and remodeling the upstairs apartment.
In addition to Walker, her mother and sister help out with the shop, and they assisted her in coming up with the business name.
"We were toying with names, and I said, 'Well, I'm coming back home, so what a perfect name,'" Walker said, adding that the name is also appropriate because she sells items that remind people of their childhood.
Walker's wide range of products include a variety of locally made items. There are numerous quilts made in Highland County. Five local artists sell their oil paintings, and a Berrysville photographer mattes and frames her photos and sells them in the store. Walker also sells hand-tatted note cards and envelopes.
There are also a variety of locally-made crafts and gifts, including candles made in Leesburg. There are three jewelry makers from Highland County, as well as Walker's own sister, who offer their products. Walker's sister also makes handmade beaded eyeglass chains, patterned and beaded headbands, painted Ohio-interest signs and barn quilts.
"I'm really trying to promote Highland County," Walker said.
Additionally, Walker sells her own homemade products, including her line of greeting cards and gift tags, all handmade, and linen spray.
Among Walker's most unique gifts are her FFA pocket knives, which come in a variety of colors for boys and girls, and her 4-H pocket knives.
"I am the only place in the world where you can get FFA and 4-H knives because I have them made," Walker said.
Walker has also ordered special Festival of the Bells knives and sells a variety of Masonic and Eastern Star knives.
In addition to her locally made gifts, Walker sells popular brands such as Longaberger and Crabtree and Evelyn as well as some Cincinnati Reds merchandise. She sells pottery, a variety of antique lamps and unique hand-carved walking sticks. She also sells "party purses," purses/clutches appropriate for proms and formals. For children, she sells a variety of doll beds and furniture, some toys and a limited-time-only selection of children's dresses handmade in Laurel County, Ky.
"My inventory changes frequently," Walker said. "I get new things in all the time."
When asked about the experience of operating her own business for over six months, Walker had nothing but good things to say.
"The response has been very good," Walker said. "I've been really pleased."
"I'm trying to project friendliness for Hillsboro, have my park benches out. I want to promote Hillsboro as being friendly."
Back Home is located at 112 East Main Street, Hillsboro. The store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and Thursdays by chance. For information, call Walker at (859) 200-3424.[[In-content Ad]]