Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to find the right answer.
For Buffy Walker, owner of Walker & Co., located at 107 W. Mississippi Ave., the story of how she found the perfect building for her growing business took time, patience and just a little bit of history.
Walker had been searching for a building for years that could hold art camps, painting lessons and more but none were just right – until she found the West Mississippi Avenue location.
Amy Bernard owned the building, and Bernard and Walker knew each other from when Walker was in college.
“Amy Bernard owned this store, Daddy’s Money, on California Avenue across from the Kidd Dorm,” Walker said. “She inspired me while I was in college — it was seeing her use her creativity to start her business that impressed me. I would walk over and offer to help them paint cups from time to time.”
During this time, Walker was also working in Lewis’s home décor and gift shop store, and she would walk through in the building she now owns when coming in for work.
“That was the job I had when Scott (my husband) and I started dating — I was working in the gift shop the day I got engaged,” Walker said. “Lewis’s was a family-run business that made employees and customers feel part of the family. They took pride in getting the little things right. Ask anyone whoever wrapped or received a gift from there. We can still remember those gold logo stickers that secured the perfect bow.”
Fast forward a bit now – Bernard moved into the old Lewis building after she started Beehive and used it for offices and creative spaces.
“I was able to get the building that I worked in during college from the person who inspired me to find a way to use your creativity as your job,” Walker said. “Scott and I kept looking around and we’d see a building, but Scott would say, ‘This is not a no, just a not yet.’ We looked for 10 years.”
Currently, Walker & Co. boasts a variety of offerings for those looking for several art camps, birthday parties, adult painting classes, anniversaries, retirement parties, rehearsal dinners, weddings and even gender reveals. Walker and Co. has also had pop up events such as bridal fair and ladies’ night with local boutiques.
“Watching Amy and watching how Lewis’s treated their customers – they wanted them to feel special, and that’s what we want for this space,” Walker said. “We want to make the celebrations special. We want people to look forward to celebrations here. We want it to be a fun, welcoming space.”
