By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
After visiting America’s southwestern states many times over the years, a certain spark, ? that feeling?, never left Ruby Jacobs.
You can see it in her store, which celebrated its grand opening Wednesday Oct. 14, in the ornate, hand painted ponies, the cattle horns that hang from the wall, and in the hand built tables strewn in vintage jewelry and fur.
Ruby Jacob, owner of one of Orion Township’s first southwestern retail shops Ruby’s Southwest Imports, is a collector, and knows where to find a good piece.
‘You have to have the desire,? she said.
Jacob opened her Ruby’s Southwest Imports in the front section of her son’s storefront, Bilbrey Construction, at 1116 S. Lapeer Rd. in August, and has slowly been adding more merchandise to her stocks.
Bilbrey Construction owner Timothy Bilbrey was not using as much space as he needed, and invited his mother to turn her online website into a slice of the southwest.
‘It just brought everything I have alive,? she said.
Beaded jewelry, sterling silver and turquoise, hand painted pottery, baskets, pueblo tapestries, jacquard throws, arrow heads and dream catchers’no two pieces are alike.
Jacob hand builds the frames holding many of her popular selling portraits, including The Teamster, the 1986 rendition by James Bama. One of her main sellers, The Teamster depicts the typical rancher in charge of driving the stagecoach, led by a strong team of horses.
Another popular seller is the portrait of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, a famed chief of the Comanche tribe, which Jacob has already sold a handful of.
Jacob also utilizes wholesalers who deal southwestern goods, and finds many of her unique prints from southwestern styled websites.
Before she was purchasing for her online website and now storefront, Jacob traveled far and wide with her husband, finding the pieces that made her house a home.
‘We found pottery, we found lamps, we found hand-painted pictures on canvas that were just beautiful, and we would go to Arizona and we’d shop there too, and Nogales, Mexico. I bought a lot of things, so my whole home is southwest. So many people loved it,? she said.
So, she started her business to help bring this ‘feeling? into other’s homes.
‘You can find just about anything here.?
Orion Area Chamber of Commerce Alaina Campbell agrees.
‘Stores that carry unique items such as Ruby’s Southwest Imports become destinations that consumers seek out,? she said. ‘This brings people from outside our community here to spend their money, which in turn boosts our local economy.?
To her knowledge, this is Orion’s first southwestern retail shop, and more items are coming.
‘I’m really looking forward to Christmas to get more gift items in,? Jacob said, adding that store hours will most likely be extended during the holiday season.
As of now, Ruby’s is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
After the holiday season, the store will close down for January and February, and reopen March 1.
Jacob said her storefront would not have been possible without the generosity of her son, Tim Bilbrey, who has been doing business in Orion Township for the past two years.
Bilbrey’s Construction, which has been in operation for about 15 years, focuses on remodels, renovations and roofing, with capabilities of building a house from the ground up.
‘Both Tim and I were just completely blown away [at the ribbon cutting ceremony].By their sincerity, their enthusiasm. I just wanted to say thank you. It means a lot to us.?
To check out some of Jacob’s southwestern goods, visit her website at’rubyssouthwestimports.com. ?