~Featured....Country Roads Antiques and Gardens~

Do you have a favorite shop that you always go back to again and again? A place where you know you can always find what your looking for? A place where everyone knows you and makes you feel like family? Well this is my place, Country Roads and Gardens in Old Towne Orange, California. I've been shopping at Sue Jackson's fabulous store for the past 15 years, and the reason I continue to shop there is for the above reasons and more. If you've been to Country Roads, then you know what I'm talking about, and if you haven't, make it your top priority if your ever in Southern California.

{store front}

{Full Bloom Cottage}

{Sue, Bryce, and Carol}

*What inspired you to start your business and what year did you open?

There were a couple of things that made me want to open my own business. I have always worked, and after being off for a few years after having my three kids I felt like something was missing.  As much as I loved them, and as active as I was in their schools and lives, I needed something for "me"! I would take them all to school, then go to work. I always left early so I could pick all three of my elementary aged kids up, and then do all the after school stuff with them.

The other reason I wanted to open my own business was because a couple of years prior, I had lost a very good friend to colon cancer. It was difficult for me to understand how cancer could steal the life of someone that was only 39 years old with an eight year old daughter. I realized then how there are no guarantees in life. And if we have dreams or things you want to do, you should "go for it"! At first I had a small store, Battered Barn located on S. Glassell in Old Towne Orange. Then a year later, on January 2nd, 1993, Country Roads became a dream come true for me when we opened on that rainy day!

* Where or who inspired your style?

I don't think there was any one person that inspired my style. I have always had a love for the old primitive, country pieces. There is something about them that reminds me of family. When I was younger, I wasn't able to afford many pieces. I remember the first piece I bought was an old, primitive harvest table. It had the wide boards, was a blue gray in color. I still have it today, and wouldn't trade it for anything, ever! I also love a variety of other things as well. I love to collect old advertising pieces. I love the old, vintage advertising signs. The old ones are "one of a kinds" to me, to me are a great explainable of folkart. My other "styles" I love are varied but include tropical/beach related vintage pieces. My bedroom is decorated that way with old vintage surfboards as well. Right now I'm enjoying the new industrial look! I've re-done my home office with more of an industrial look!

*Your business has really become all about family. How much do you love working with your kids?

Country Roads IS my family that not only includes my own kids, but Carol and Yesi as well.  Carol started working with me whens she was 18 years old. Her sister, Yesi, use to come in when she was out of school and hang out with Carol. I think she was about 10 years old.  When she was about 12 I think she started working in the summer part time. Just like my kids had done! There are some days when I'm working with my own kids that I want to slap 'em! There are just moments when they will say or do something that really gets to you. That is part of being a family! I'm very grateful for our gardens out back. It is always nice to walk away and calm down if I'm irritated with one of them. But thankfully that doesn't happen to often. I'm always very, very grateful to have taught all three of my grown kids the importance of a work ethic! To get by in life, I believe you need to know HOW to work! I'm proud of all three of them, and of Carol and Yesi. I know of people that never see their grown kids. I'm blessed to have them be a part of not only Country Roads, but my every day life as well!

*How many dealers do you have at CR?

You know, actually, I've never really counted. I think because it would scare me to know the real number of people, that myself and my business are responsible for. When we have new dealers join our Country Roads family, I try to first, make sure they are nice! I know that sounds kind of stupid, but in my store, "nice" goes a very long way. And of course I like to see what type of merchandise they intend to carry and what kind of displays they have. If I was to guess at an actual number of dealers we have at CR, I would have to say at least 80 plus!

*Retail is full of its ups and downs, what keeps you motivated to keep going when you have a hard day?

The past couple of years I think we've all had our ups and downs, and our share of bad days. There are days that some of our customers can truly almost push you over the edge. I think what "really" keeps me going is I'm in love with what I do! I love to work, I'm just wired that way. I have a difficult time relaxing and making my brain just stop thinking for awhile. I'm always thinking of ways to make Country Roads better and make our customers happier! The other really big thing that keeps me motivated and keeps me working hard is that I do LOVE what I do! I know a lot of people can't say that. I'm blessed to be surrounded by my family,and  my great family of dealers at Country Roads, and my wonderful customers that have shopped with us for years. Many since day one! Life is kind of how you choose to look at it. You can have a bad day at work, and just let it eat at you. Or, you can try and push that out of your mind and remember all the smiles and kind words that your good customers say to you each and every day. And for me, I choose to focus on the good and positive, rather than the negative. I think that has helped make Country Roads the store it is today!!

*{above photos taken by "The Vintage Inspired Home"}

*{Photos below courtesy of Sue Jackson}

Below are a couple of photos from the Johnnye Merle Gardens at Country Roads named after Sue's sweet Mom.

  Thank you so much to Sue and here amazing Country Roads family for allowing me to feature your fabulous store. I look forward to shopping with you for many more years to come!!

~Country Roads Antiques and Gardens~

204 West Chapman

Old Towne Orange, Ca.

714-532-3041

Open everyday from 10-5pm

 Closed major holidays: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

If you don't live in the Southern California area, you can visit Sue on her blog, "Just Practicing Random Acts Of Kindness" @ www.mycountryroads.blogspot.com.