ASHLAND — A new treasure hunt is open in downtown Ashland.
And the community is clearly excited about it.
A ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday afternoon for Curated Gold & Gathered was one of the most attended in recent memory for the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, according to Emily Grimm, vice president of membership and marketing.
Located at 30 W. Main St. in the heart of the city, the full-service jewelry and antique store is officially open for business. Its regular hours include Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Marcia Scott co-owns the business with Cindy Carroll. Curated Gold & Gathered includes 23 different vendors inside the downtown space, Scott said.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the vendors. I want to thank all the vendors for trusting in us and wanting to go on this adventure with us,” Carroll said.
Offerings include a little bit of everything. From antique lamps and furniture to sports memorabilia, vinyl records and jewelry, there’s truly something for everyone.
“If you don’t find it here, it hasn’t been made,” Scott said. “Everybody (vendors) has their little niche.”
Services such as ring sizing and placing stones on jewelry are also available.
Below are photos taken at Curated Gold & Gathered during a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday afternoon. (Credit: Hayden Gray) The story continues below.
New business an answered prayer
Scott said she previously operated an antique and vintage store near Tacos & Tequila off East Main Street.
“I just thought I should be growing. I prayed about it,” she said.
Carroll, a vendor inside Scott’s previous business space at the time, asked Scott if she’d ever want to have a partner. Scott didn’t flinch with her response.
“I said, ‘Wow. Thank you, God,'” she said. “He just opened that door for me. From that minute on we chatted, went to dinner, wrote lists — we just brainstormed and then all this came to fruition.”
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said the new business creates an opportunity for folks to have their own treasure hunt in the city.
“It’s so interesting how you’ll go into shops like this and of all the beautiful things that they have, you’ll end up at the counter with some little thing that you never knew you wanted but you couldn’t walk away from it,” Miller said.
Scott shared her vision for a store like Curated Gold & Gathered with the mayor after arriving in Ashland about three years ago, he said.
“Now don’t get me wrong, a lot of people were hoping for an Italian restaurant in this building. But I will tell you, when they go through this I think they will appreciate what you’ve done here,” Miller said, sparking chuckles across the room.
He thanked Scott and Carroll for helping vendors essentially run their own small businesses within the business itself.
“We’re glad you’re here. You’ll make great use of the space,” the mayor said.
