Claudia Sanders Dinner House has been a Shelbyville landmark since opening in 1968.

Claudia Sanders Dinner House continues the colonel’s legacy of ‘true Kentucky food’

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton ate there; so did pop composer Marvin Hamlisch. Singer Pat Boone and Lee Majors, television’s “Six Million Dollar Man,” have stopped in, and so have legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and U.S. Senator
Mitch McConnell.

But of all the famous people who have eaten at Claudia Sanders Dinner House (3202 Shelbyville Road, in Shelbyville), owners Tommy and Cherry Settle have most admired the man who made the dining landmark possible – KFC founder, Col. Harland Sanders.

“Cherry had been his national sales hostess; she went everywhere to teach employees about proper appearance and cleanliness,” Tommy said. “We were thinking of opening a KFC store in Virginia, but didn’t have the money. We came to the colonel in 1972 and asked if he could help us out. He offered to let us take over this operation, because he was traveling so much. He lent us the money; he financed it and everything. It was a real opportunity for us, and we never could have done it
without him.”

The colonel started his world-famous chicken chain during the 1950s in Corbin, where he and his wife, Claudia, ran a restaurant and motel. She regularly visited the town’s railroad station in order to ship finger-lickin’-good ingredients to distant franchises. In 1959, the couple moved to Shelbyville, a more convenient location for taking advantage of the Louisville area’s transportation hub.

Tommy Settles and his daughter, banquet manager Jennifer Reese, will never forget Col. Sanders’ generosity.

The couple purchased a spacious white house, known as Blackwood Hall, on four acres beside U.S. 60, a major thoroughfare between Louisville and Lexington. The site soon bustled with employees working in the restaurant chain’s headquarters and kitchen staff preparing ingredients for recipes.

Claudia Sanders Dinner House opened in 1968 as The Colonel’s Lady. The convivial colonel often parked the cars of his guests and greeted as many diners as his business schedule permitted.

The couple sold the property to the Settles seven years before the colonel’s death in 1980; Claudia died in 1996. The sale ended the restaurant’s affiliation with KFC, whose headquarters had relocated to Louisville.

A catastrophic fire on the day after Mother’s Day in 1999 destroyed the original restaurant building. Following 17 months of reconstruction, the restaurant almost doubled in size. Today, the 24,000-square-foot facility seats more than 800 people and features several dining rooms, a banquet room, an upstairs lounge and a shady balcony.

The lunch and dinner menus of Kentucky comfort food continue to tempt diners with the colonel’s favorite items – country ham, steak and, of course, fried chicken.

“Over the years, we’ve added lots of beef selections, including filet mignon and New York strip steak – all Black tAngus choice. We also have catfish, trout and salmon, and as many as 18 vegetables in our Sunday buffet,” Tommy said. “The colonel and I worked on a Hot Brown. We went all over, eating different versions of it, until we were ready to make one the way we wanted it to be.”

With seating for more than 800 people, the restaurant is the site of weddings and other special events.

Every dish, from bean soup (another Tommy-and-the-colonel collaborative effort) to blackberry cobbler, is made on the premises. The restaurant received a Best of the South award in the 2002 issue of Southern Living Favorites, and the recipe for Breaded Tomatoes was published in an issue of Taste of Home magazine.

“We know what’s going into our product, because we buy the best quality – nothing cheap,” Tommy said. “The colonel told us, ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. You could trick ‘em once, but you couldn’t trick ‘em twice.’ If you don’t have good food, they won’t come back a second time. Serve good-quality food all the time, pay attention to it, and they’ll keep coming back for true Kentucky food.”

Claudia Sanders Dinner House, 3202 Shelbyville Road (U.S. 60) in Shelbyville, opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; open Monday for private parties. For more information, visit www.claudiasanders.com or phone 502.633.5600.

Thomas Moriarty, M.D., chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Kosair Children’s Hospital, performs surgery to treat a child who has a malformation of the brain and a spinal cord cyst.

Kentuckians take pride in hosting one of the world’s top sporting events every May. Unfortunately, our state is also famous for a wide range of lifestyle-related health problems: We smoke, drink and eat too much, resulting in greater risk of stroke and blockages in the circulatory system. One in three Americans, including 1.7 million residents of Kentucky and Southern Indiana, are affected by a neurological disorder at some point in their lives.

On the positive side, we have Norton Neuroscience Institute (NNI), which was established in early 2009 and has already become the region’s leading provider of neurological care. Its team of specialists is dedicated to providing patients and their families with advanced treatment for complex neurological disorders through areas of expertise such as stroke care, brain tumor treatment, spine care, movement disorders (such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease), headaches and concussion treatment, pediatrics, trauma and injury.

“Everybody talks about the baby boomers and the need for orthopedics. Well, as people grow older, they have neurological issues as well,” said Chief Executive Doug Winkelhake, who is also president of NNI’s adult services division. “If you don’t get blood to the brain because of poor health, lack of exercise, poor eating habits or smoking, those conditions can play a large part. People in the neurosciences like to say that the heart is just a pump for the brain.”

Doug Winkelhake, chief executive of Norton Neuroscience Institute.

In the past, patients needing treatment for many kinds of neurological illnesses and injuries had to travel to Nashville, Cleveland or other cities renowned for specialized clinics. NNI, whose physicians and related health care providers work at five Norton Healthcare facilities (Norton Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital, Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Suburban Hospital and Kosair Children’s Hospital) has made a commitment of up to $100 million over ten years to provide and expand world-class services right here.

Meeting that goal requires recruiting specialists and subspecialists, as well as educating and training additional physicians who are skilled in the latest treatments for bleeding in the brain, epilepsy, stroke or even a cyst that is pressing on a nerve.

“It’s unusual for a city this size to have two highly trained endovascular cranial neurosurgeons working together, but we do – Shervin R. Dashti, M.D. and Tom L. Yao, M.D.,” Doug said. “Instead of taking out large parts of the skull in order to gain access to certain areas, they can treat now through a small incision in the groin. I’ve watched what they do in the operating room, and it’s amazing, every day.”

The institute’s multi-disciplinary approach to medical care may require, depending on the illness or injury, specialists in fields such as neuropsychology, physiatry or psychiatry.

“There is also a great deal of beneficial collaboration among medical colleagues at other facilities – the Norton Cancer Institute, for example; and the University of Kentucky, which has a very good program for A.L.S., Lou Gehrig’s disease,” Doug said. “We are very glad to be involved with the University of Louisville, and with the Norton Leatherman Spine Center.”

Tom Yao, M.D. (left) and Shervin Dashti, M.D. (right) perform a minimally invasive aneurysm-coiling procedure to block blood flow to a brain aneurysm.

NNI’s physician-recruitment efforts recently led to the addition of Angela M. Hardwick, M.D., a fellowship-trained movement disorder neurologist. Skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s, she evaluates whether a patient can be treated with medication or requires surgery.

By making such giant strides, all of NNI’s adult facilities have already gained accreditation as primary stroke centers by The Joint Commission on accreditation of health care organizations.

“We’re not done yet. We are making progress in some very difficult fields, looking at continued growth, and trying to attract more physicians and help more patients,” Doug said. “We want to expand the amounts of clinical research we’re doing and keep extending the services we provide throughout the community.”

Those services include informative presentations at various locations; free classes about headaches, for example, are scheduled for Sept. 6 and Oct. 11 (phone 502.629.1234 to register). NNI patients can access a section of their medical records online, thanks to the electronic medical records system used by participating physicians.

“There are still gaps we want to fill, and programs to bring in,” Doug said. “But to see an institute that began just three years ago already become as comprehensive as this one is – that’s pretty remarkable for this community.”

For more information about Norton Neuroscience Institute, phone 502.629.8000 or visit www.nortonhealthcare.com/nni.

Courtesy Photos

Owner Karen Crook has developed more than 75 family skin care products.

The dry winds out West can be tough on skin – just ask Karen Crook, who grew up in a Texas oil family and was an Air Force missile launch officer in Wyoming. When she and her husband, Gary, later lived in California, her problem with moisture-deprived skin persisted.

She tried a wide range of commercial skin products, but finally decided to use her background in chemistry and biology to find a way to soothe the irritation. Using time-tested ingredients – including aloe vera, olive oil, shea butter and cocoa butter – she started making her own lotions and creams, and gave samples to family and friends.

Before long, they were asking, “When are you going to make some more?”

By 2005, Karen had established her own line of skin care products. The couple moved to Louisville, where she set up kiosks in two malls. Their success inspired her to open a shop, Lexie’s Trading Post, on Bardstown Road in 2008.

The name “Lexie” was left over from several that the Crooks had considered for their children. After son Dylan and daughter Jordan arrived, the third name seemed fine for the store.

A year later, Karen moved out of that location and distributed her products door to door. While making a delivery earlier this year, she noticed that 2224 Frankfort Ave. was available, in the heart of the Crescent Hill and Clifton neighborhoods.

Karen Legler of Louisville hand-pours Waxy Beans soybean candles.

“Most of our clients are in this area, and that’s a big part of the reason we relocated here,” she said. “This address was too good to pass up.”

Customers from the old Highlands location, as well as new shoppers, stop in for Olive Oil-based Bath Salts, Extra Sudsy Shower Gels and Succulent Sugar Scrubs. Skin care items for children have The Giggles Program label, while those for adults are in the Lexie’s of Louisville line.

“We now make more than 75 products,” Karen said. “People are looking for ones that are milder than they can usually find. By combining such basic ingredients, some of which have been used since the eras of Homer and Cleopatra, we make products for the whole family – even our body washes aren’t harsh for little children.”

Unlike most cosmetics stores, Lexie’s Trading Post offers discounted refills of its bath-and-body products.

“This area is big on keeping it ‘green.’ Refilling our customers’ containers saves money for them, and for me as well,” she said. “You don’t even have to bring back the bottle that you bought from us. One man brings in a jar for our pet wash. There is a lady who loves our sugar scrub, but arthritis makes it hard for her to open our big-mouth jar, so she brings me a Rubbermaid sandwich container.”

Sales of Karen’s skin care products help support the Bears For ERs program, which she started as a way to cheer up sick and injured youngsters. More than one thousand stuffed bears, with handmade Get Well cards attached, have been given to Kosair Children’s Hospital.

Potters in Taylorsville, Bowling Green and Berea sell their wares at Lexie’s Trading Post.

Although Lexie’s Trading Post is best known for Karen’s Kentucky-made emollients and washes, it also carries pottery, jewelry, candles and other merchandise crafted by local and regional artists. There is even a section of “previously loved” decorative items and accessories.

“Our customers show us the need to get new products or develop them. When people buying lotions wished that we carried greeting cards to put with them, for gifts, we added cards,” she said. “To make a new skin care product, we write down people’s suggestions, then go through as many as 15 stages of formulation. When I think it’s good enough, I give it to several testers, and we either change it or go with it. Whatever the product, we listen to our customers, and do our best to give them exactly what they want.”

Lexie’s Trading Post, 2224 Frankfort Ave., opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, and stays open late on F.A.T. Friday (the final Friday of each month). For more information, visit www.lexiestradingpost.com or phone 502.365.4438.

Misty W. Griffin, DMD

Few professional people begin their careers at 16, but Misty W. Griffin, DMD, owner and dentist at Forest Springs Family Dental, did exactly that. While growing up in Owensboro, she worked as a chair-side dental assistant to a pair of dentists.

“I always knew that I wanted to work in health care,” she said. “Six months after starting to help in that Owensboro practice, I fell in love with this field. I’ve now been in dentistry for going on 21 years.”

After graduating from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in 2002, she moved to Lexington and spent several years in a dental practice residency through the University of Kentucky. She is married to Louisville native Hubert Priest “Bert” Griffin III; they have a three-year-old son, Priest.

“While I was in school, I had talked a lot with a classmate about becoming partners in a practice,” she said. “But after graduation, I wasn’t ready to become an owner, so I associated and did various things. She opened a practice; and by the time I was ready to own, she was relocating to Denver, so I bought it from her.”

Misty hung out her shingle at Forest Springs Family Dental (12466 LaGrange Road) in November 2009. Its location, in The Shops of Forest Springs, near the Gene Snyder Freeway, has proven to be convenient for her patients as well as her staff: office manager Terri Bradley; dental hygienist Lynn Ball; and expanded-duty dental assistant Tina Bryan. Although small, the community service-oriented practice enjoys sponsoring events such as the Salvation Army’s upcoming “Christmas in July.”

“We treat everybody like family. I try to focus on what I would do if you were my mother, or if your mouth were mine – what would I want done?” she said. “I don’t just say, ‘You need a filling, come back and see me.’ I try to educate the patient about the disease process and why it needs to be treated.”

To achieve that goal, Forest Springs Family Dental uses the latest technology, including digital X-rays, which use low levels of radiation; and practice-management software that keeps patient charts instantly accessible. Local and “happy gas” anesthesia are offered; so are rewards for patients who bring in new referrals.

“I do full general-practice dentistry, which includes children, families – everybody. My oldest patient is 100,” she said. “My niche is treating adults who have a great fear of dentistry. There are a lot of people who had bad experiences as kids, or have other reasons. I ask them about their past experiences. It helps to know exactly what they’re afraid of, so we can work around those fears, walk them through it, and get their dental treatment done.”

Forest Springs Family Dental, 12466 LaGrange Road, opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information, visit www.forestspringsdental.com or call 502.241.3838; call for evening availability.

Pearson’s staff includes new owners Larry Robbins (center, seated), John Keith (center, standing), and Roy Keith Jr. (left of Larry Robbins).

Lorenzo Dow Pearson, a cabinet maker from Shelby County, moved to Louisville in 1832 to find a broader market for his products. The town was home to only about 15,000 souls, but he soon built a prosperous store that included handmade coffins.

“When you had a death in your family, you went to the furniture store to pick out a coffin,” said Larry Robbins, co-owner of Pearson’s Funeral Home (149 Breckenridge Lane). “The furniture maker either made one or finished an existing one, and brought it to the house on his wagon. He also took it to the church and the cemetery. In many rural areas today, the local funeral home may still be connected to a furniture store.”

The making of coffins expanded into the arranging of funerals and burials. Over the years, Pearson’s has had several addresses, including Old Louisville’s elegant Ferguson Mansion, now home to the Filson Historical Society. Its carriage house once held horse-drawn hearses.

The current Pearson’s Funeral Home, 149 Breckenridge Lane, was built in 1951.

The current Pearson’s was built in 1951 as a satellite location for the downtown facility.

“Some people thought they were crazy for going out into what was mostly country,” Larry said. “The trolley came out this far, then turned around and went back downtown. Looking east, you’d see corn and potato fields.”

In January 2011, Rob and David Pearson – the fifth generation of the family to lead the business – sold it to Larry, John Keith and his nephew, Roy Keith Jr.

“All of us want Pearson’s to stay a local business, rather than be owned by a conglomerate. Rob and David allowed us to have that opportunity,” John said. “They are still involved as consultants. When a family wants to talk to a Pearson, David or Rob comes in. We have a great working relationship with them.”

In 1991, Pearson’s formed a partnership with the Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home on Lexington Road. Together, they built the Pearson-Ratterman Brothers Funeral Home in Middletown. The Pearsons have since sold their interest in that location, and it will drop their name by the end of this year.

Larry, who grew up in Carrollton, is a second-generation funeral director and has been on the Pearson’s staff since 1985. John Keith’s background is in memorials, especially through the Keith Monument Company; his friendship with Larry began 25 years ago during his frequent appointments at Pearson’s.

Pearson’s was founded by a downtown cabinet maker in 1848.

Since purchasing the 61-year-old facility, the new owners have been making improvements. They have added 19 spaces to the parking lot, along with a walkway, a lamp post and new shrubs.

“We’ve also remodeled the lower level. As in most funeral homes, our display room used to show only corners of caskets,” Larry said. “For some homes, it was a space consideration; but the funeral industry also thought it would be easier on families. We now show entire caskets, so people can truly see what they’re getting.” The full selection is also displayed online.

Like weddings, today’s funerals may be highly individualistic. Pearson’s staff organizes each family’s requests and requirements into a dignified ceremony.

“In the monument world, we listen to what people say about the person they’ve lost. Then we create a monument that tells a story,” John said. “The funeral industry is now doing the same: We listen, advise, and show the family what is available, including photo collages and videos. Our job is to help the funeral be more of a celebration of life.”

In an era when many funeral homes are being purchased by conglomerates, Pearson’s is determined to remain locally owned.

Visitation rooms are decorated in blue or golden-brown.

“Being independent allows us to do whatever the family needs,” John said. “There are no set rules. We don’t have to call someone in Texas or Ohio to ask if we can do something. We live here. We know people here. Louisville is like a big family.”

Pearson’s currently has a full-time staff of eight, with four licensed funeral directors and embalmers, including John’s daughter-in-law, Amanda Keith. Her primary responsibility is pre-arranging funerals, but she also speaks to clubs and senior groups.

“One reason we were interested in buying Pearson’s was that it has an excellent reputation and its history is steeped in this community. We didn’t want that to be lost,” Larry said. “We don’t want to change anything beyond improving what they had. There aren’t a lot of family-owned funeral homes any more. It’s hard to tell who owns what. It’s nice to still be able to have the members of the Pearson family around.”

In some funeral homes, John noted, there can seem to be a wedge between families and the people who are serving them. Pearson’s goal is to “cross that wedge.”

“It’s all about putting the family on a pedestal and thinking of things that need to be done before they think of them,” he said. “We want to be there for people in that time and help them make decisions they feel good about, so that in two weeks or a month, they say, ‘We did the right thing.’”

Pearson’s Funeral Home is located at 149 Breckenridge Lane. For more information, visit www.pearsonfuneralhome.com or phone 502.896.0349.

A University of Virginia alumnus and an architect by profession, he worked for Yum! Brands, Inc. during the early part of his career. The corporation sent him to California in 1984; and for the next 15 years, he lived primarily in the Los Angeles area.
“Outdoor living is a way of life there; any space you have outside is an extension of your home,” he said. “I’m one of those people who need more than a balcony.”

When he returned to Louisville in 1999, he discovered that, although some stores sold outdoor furniture, no one seemed to cater to the whole outdoor lifestyle. That inspired him to open Digs in 2001, on the south side of the parking lot.

Word spread that he was filling that market niche with high-quality lines of all-weather furniture, including Brown Jordan, Gloster, and Summer Classics. Digs blossomed into a one-stop shop for just about anything that would enhance a porch, deck or patio – pots and planters, serving ware, lamps, lifelike artificial plants, and much more.

“For a while we did fountains, but there is maintenance involved. They have to be kept clean, and drained in winter,” he said. “Customers wanted full service when they bought fountains, but Digs really didn’t have the staff for that. Now we carry a few small fountains for terraces and similar settings.”

About six years after opening his first Digs, Ben opened a second one, on Main Street. However, its sales volume was only satisfactory, and the St. Matthews store consistently did a higher volume of business. Last October, when the current Chenoweth Square site became available, he closed both of the previous stores and consolidated their inventories under one roof.
“It’s good to have everything in one spot again,” he said. “I like the frontage on Chenoweth Lane, and the fact that we have lots of windows and a nice outdoor area.”

When Ben established his business, the selection of vendors and materials wasn’t nearly as wide as it is today. Aluminum furniture is far more popular than iron and steel versions, which rust. Upholstery choices once were limited to canvas and a few other fabrics; but today’s outdoor cushions can be covered with corduroy, chenille or other treated textiles.

“Everything we stock is outdoor-able,” he said. “A few accessories are more suited to a porch or other protected area, but all of our upholstery is fine for outdoors. The fabrics resist fading and damage from sun and water.” Even the area rugs are well-suited for outside use.

“When we have items that aren’t rated for full exposure, we advise customers about the best ways to protect them. Many places sell garden pots, but people don’t always know if they can stay out year-round,” he said. “When winter comes, it isn’t easy to move a planted-up pot indoors. The larger-scale planters and pots we buy are frost-proof for our market area.”

Ben still accepts architectural projects, and is happy to go to his customers’ homes to measure their outdoor spaces and use his trained eye to help them select the best furniture and accessories.

“It can be difficult to visualize whether something will work in an outdoor space. In a room, it’s a little easier to visualize scale,” he said. “I measure and do a drawing of the porch, terrace or other space, to give folks a comfort level for what they’re seeing. I charge a nominal fee; but if they buy something from Digs, it gets rebated and applied to the purchase. I enjoy doing that kind of work, because I love seeing things in place.”

Approximately 12 percent of Digs’ customers, Ben estimated, are people who want to work outside as well as relax there. Because they are serious about gardening and require high-quality tools, he always has a good variety on hand. Whatever the product, from trowel to table, he stands behind everything he sells.

“Digs gives me the opportunity to indulge my two passions – architecture and outdoor living,” he said. “Where else could I do that?”

Digs, 3905 Chenoweth Square, opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and opens at noon and closes at 4 p.m. Sunday; hours may be flexible on request. For more information, visit www.digshomeandgarden.com or phone 502.893.3447.

Owner Jimmy Davis, now 94, began learning the jewelry business in 1938.

James “Jimmy” Davis learned the jeweler’s arts back when F.D.R. was in the White House, Seabiscuit was the horse to bet on, and plans were being made to build an airport bigger than Bowman Field.

“My brother, Ben, bought Buschemeyer’s Jewelers in 1938,” he said. “I was a junior at the University of Louisville. After class, I’d work for him and got $3 a week. On Saturdays, I got an extra dollar.”

A lot has changed since then, of course, including wages, but Jimmy, now 94, is still at Buschemeyer’s, chatting with customers and sharing his expertise with the store’s half-dozen employees. The address has changed – it’s now 2216 Dundee Road – but not the high standards and skills that have made Buschemeyer’s a jewelry store of the first water.

The business was founded in 1865 by one August Rees, who started out repairing jewelry in a rooming house. He soon gained so many customers, he was able to open a real store, complete with employees.

“People started saying, ‘Take it to Buschemeyer’s; they’ll mend it.’ Then they branched out into making jewelry by hand,” Jimmy said. “At one time, they had about two dozen sitting jewelers – engravers, polishers, setters. Everybody had a different specialty; that was before mass production.”

After more than a century downtown, Buschemeyer’s Jewelers opened in the Douglass Loop on May 1.

William J. Buschemeyer later purchased the store. Toward the end of the 19th century, it became known for a 19-diamond brooch, featuring elaborate filigree, called the Buschemeyer Kentucky Cluster.

In 1949, Jimmy and his late wife, Miriam, a fine jeweler in her own right (“She could make anything”), purchased the business. They kept the Buschemeyer name because the public knew and respected it, and added the matching of silverware patterns to the services they offered.

“If someone lost or damaged a knife, fork or spoon, we would try to mend it. If we couldn’t, we’d find a replacement. We were known for keeping track of people’s patterns, and sending a notice when we got in some of their pieces,” Jimmy said. “It used to be that when girls graduated from high school, they were given a silver spoon and added pieces later.”

Jimmy retired in 1983 but remains the owner, with several relatives as partners. He delights in waiting on multiple generations of families he has served.

“A lady came in recently with her daughter and her little granddaughter. I had known her father, so that’s four generations,” he said. “I believe people are coming back to family businesses. They want to go where people run the business themselves and talk to the jeweler who’ll be making their wedding ring or necklace. That’s the fun of it.”

Master bench jeweler Ned Gavin creates unique jewelry from scratch.

After more than a century downtown, Buschemeyer’s moved to the Douglass Loop in time to open on May 1. The location, next to Café Lou Lou, used to be a bank. The store makes good use of its leftover vault.

“The Loop is a little community—that’s what we like about it,” Jimmy said. “It’s sort of a meeting place, with the Twig and Leaf, Fat Jimmy’s, Graeter’s, Heine Brothers and other great places. I wish we had moved here 30 years ago.”

Buschemeyer’s still welcomes repair jobs that other jewelers won’t attempt. The store also evaluates, buys and sells coins (“Don’t clean them, because that affects their value,” Jimmy warned), redesigns jewelry, and makes one-of-a-kind pieces from scratch.

Master bench jeweler Ned Gavin, who trained in New York, enjoys the challenge of turning a hard wax cylinder into a unique wedding ring or other treasure. In a process that takes about three weeks, he pares a portion of the cylinder into a basic ring form, then painstakingly carves the final shape. A plaster cast hardens around that wax model; and when it is heated, the wax melts, leaving a precise cavity ready to be filled with molten gold. After the plaster is washed away, the cooled ring is cleaned, polished and set with stones.

“We prefer making a one-of-a-kind piece, because no one else is going to have it. If we were to do a rubber mold for a generic piece, which is what most companies do, there would be thousands of people wearing it, so it wouldn’t feel that special,” he said. “We are among the few people in this entire area who can do this level of customization.”

Buschemeyer’s evaluates, buys and sells coins as well as estate jewelry.

Now that Buschemeyer’s has settled into its new home, Jimmy makes sure that he is on hand for as many meet-and-greets as possible.

“I come in and help the staff. They like it because I’m not on the payroll,” he joked. “I love seeing the people and doing things for them. We have a lot of good, loyal customers. That’s what keeps us going.”

Buschemeyer’s Jewelers, 2216 Dundee Road, is open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit www.buschemeyer.com or phone 502.587.0621.

A Reader’s Corner moved to 2044 Frankfort Ave. in Clifton last summer.

Tim and Judy Fout have a recurring nightmare—in the daytime.

Judy was in a grocery checkout line recently when she noticed a woman who looked like a teacher, holding a book. Since both women had a few moments before reaching the cash register, Judy introduced herself.

“I told her that my husband and I own a bookstore called A Reader’s Corner, and that we give teacher discounts,” Judy said. “She said, ‘Oh, I thought you were closed!’ We hear that so often.”

The misconception started last June when the store moved from St. Matthews to 2044 Frankfort Ave. in Clifton. The relocation may have confused some people, but those who have visited the new shop have found it more attractive and better stocked than ever.

Tim entered the used book market online in 1996. Within a few months, he and Judy decided that they were ready to open a bricks-and-mortar shop. In December 1997, they opened one on Wiltshire Avenue; and for five and a half years, they shared the building with The Wiltshire Pantry.

Owners Judy and Tim Fout.

After about eight years on Breckinridge Lane, they moved the shop to its current spot, a frame building that comprises about 1,500 square feet.

“Our goal had been to stay in St. Matthews, but it didn’t work out. We looked at three storefronts, but each one fell through. This site was ours within days of finding it,” Judy said. “We think this is the right amount of space, and this is where we belong. The Crescent Hill neighborhood is very locally oriented. We’re more connected to businesses around here, and feel more a part of things.”

During A Reader’s Corner’s early days, the Fouts specialized in non-fiction, which Tim prefers; most of the fiction they carried was literature. The Breckinridge Lane site had room for expansion into half non-fiction, half fiction—including “the kind of mainstream books that people read for escapism,” as Judy described them.

“People with all kinds of interests still love coming to used bookstores,” she said. “I know a woman who travels and got tired of using her electronic reader. She’s going back to books. No one can tell her when and where she can read a book, including during take-off and landing. Used books are so inexpensive, you don’t worry if you lose one. People prefer holding them, too. And with electronic readers, when one with more gadgets comes along, you think you have to buy it. Books don’t change.”

A Reader’s Corner still sells books online through website Amazon.com, and other outlets, but that part of the business has dropped considerably since last year’s relocation. As Judy put it, “The store has to take priority.”

The Fouts estimate that they have 30,000 books in the store and stockroom. Unlike many bookshops, they have a substantial Religion section, which includes various translations of the Bible as well as commentaries.

“We have more serious philosophy and theology,” Tim said. “People are surprised to find that we also have an eclectic variety of remainders, selected for us by Harvey Venier. He used to be with Hawley-Cooke, and is one of the top remainders buyers in the country. We’re very fortunate to have him, because he adds so much to our store.”

Customers also are surprised that A Reader’s Corner discounts 20 percent on new books. Larger discounts may be available for new books bought in quantity, such as for book clubs or church groups. Teachers, whether in classrooms or home-school settings, receive a 25 percent discount. The shop has a contract to provide non-textbooks, such as classic novels, for the Jefferson County Public Schools system.

A Reader’s Corner has a children’s section, with story time on the second Saturday of each month. Youngsters receive refreshments and a free book; weather permitting, that event is held on the front porch.

Some older patrons are in a writer’s group that meets on Friday nights. Book-signings are popular, too: On June 21, for example, Tim’s friend James Grote will sign copies of Medieval Literacy, which includes essays about C. S. Lewis’s perspective on various aspects of the Middle Ages.

“We’re always looking for books and events that our customers will enjoy,” Judy said. “Even though we have less space than before, one of our goals is to fill it with better books. Another goal is, of course, to help people find us. We’re still around, and better than ever.”

A Reader’s Corner, 2044 Frankfort Ave., opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday; and opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. Thursdays. On the final Friday of each month, it opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.areaderscorner.com or phone 502.897.5578.

Whitehouse’s Amy Bergeron revisits Whitehall, whose exterior her crew repainted in 2010.

Slapstick housepainters who create chaos – such as The Three Stooges in “Jerks of All Trades” – get laughs on television, but who would turn them loose on a real building?

“Nothing travels faster than news about a bad painting job,” said Amy Bergeron, owner and president of Whitehouse Residential & Commercial Painting Co. “Our mission is 100 percent customer satisfaction, and we achieve it through top-quality craftsmanship and products. We want our customers to be our customers for life.”

The business was named for the family who founded it in 1993. Amy was hired as an estimator in 2001, and purchased the company two years later.

“When I started working here, I didn’t know if I would like it,” she said. “Even before I became the owner, it was interesting to be a woman in a male-dominated industry. As I grew more comfortable with that, I grew more in love with the job. I loved working with customers on a personal level and seeing the transformation of a project from start to finish. As time went on, I realized that I could see myself doing this forever.”

Certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise, Whitehouse currently accepts about 190 projects annually, including houses, banks, schools, corporate headquarters and churches.

Artist Jennie Gelles painted this Noah’s Ark mural for St. Michael Orthodox Church.

“The St. John Center for Homeless Men was a neat project for us. It used to be a church, and there were tapestry-type paintings on the walls. Because of the way we had to build the scaffolding, we were at eye level with the paintings, and saw the intricate detail,” she said. “It takes special craftsmanship to do old homes, too. We pride ourselves on that. Old houses have become a niche for us – they’re what we’re known for.”

Two summers ago, the Historic Homes Foundation, Inc. hired Whitehouse to repaint the exterior of Whitehall House & Gardens on Lexington Road. The Southern-style Greek Revival mansion required about five weeks of scrupulous care by a crew of four.

Buildings such as Whitehall that must meet historic-preservation standards may require colors which match the original ones, or approval to use other shades. The homeowner may not know the exact name of a shade that was applied years ago. When that happens, a paint chip is removed for matching as closely as possible.

Repainting Whitehall’s columns took the Whitehouse crew to dizzying heights.

“During the project, Whitehall was open for tours, meetings and weddings. We had to adjust our work accordingly and couldn’t be there for days at a time. Brides don’t want ladders all over the place, or wet paint and tarps,” Amy said. “We also had to be very careful not to damage the ivy and other beautiful plantings.”

To accommodate the needs of Whitehall’s owners and guests, Whitehouse developed an unusual strategy. A crew often paints a house’s entire fascia and soffit at one time, and all of the brickwork at another, and so on. But to keep Whitehall’s lovely portico available for visitors and photographs, the crew painted that entire side at once, including the towering Corinthian columns.

“Those wooden columns had undergone some interesting repairs over the years,” she said. “There was a hole that someone had filled with blank pages of notebook paper. Our craftsmen did the carpentry that was necessary to repair it and match what was original.”

Whitehouse has greatly expanded its range of projects. A second company – Whitehouse Painting & Construction – now does renovations such as bathroom and kitchen upgrading, and hardwood floor installation. Maintenance plans that provide periodic touch-ups are available, as are faux finishes and murals. Factory-grade coatings can be applied to make existing kitchen cabinets look like new.

After completing a project, Whitehouse can return for touch-ups that keep surfaces beautiful.

“We’re becoming a one-stop shop for people who need anything from changing out a bathroom vanity to refinishing a basement,” said Ann Dreisbach, who, in addition to being Amy’s mother, handles Whitehouse’s marketing and development of new business. “Women are very detail-oriented, and attention to detail is one thing that sets us apart. So does our determination to do whatever it takes to make our customers happy. This is a beautiful business to be in.”

Whitehouse Residential & Commercial Painting Co., 8045 Warwick Ave., provides estimates and services by appointment. For more information, visit www.whitehousepaint.com or phone 502.425.0483.

Merci Boutique is located beside its sister store, Fleur de Lis, in Chenoweth Square.

If your store is successful and it’s time to open a second one, what could be handier than taking the space next door?

Connie Schleuning did exactly that this spring, when she opened Mercí Boutique in Chenoweth Square, on the west side of her Fleur de Lis store.

“The same people are working at both places now, sharing responsibility, so it’s manageable,” she said. “We thought about cutting a hole through the wall to connect the stores – maybe someday.”

Connie, who has a degree in business marketing, opened Fleur de Lis 12 years ago to sell home interior items, accessories and gifts. The store has done interior design work in a number of houses.

“I just liked the way ‘Fleur de Lis’ sounded,” she said. “My husband, Bill, thought it was a terrible name, because nobody knew what it was or how to say it. He didn’t realize that it’s the symbol of Louisville – to be honest, neither did I. That became a joke between us.”

The opportunity to create Mercí came when the wine store beside Fleur de Lis closed.  Mercí opened about two months ago, following hands-on redecorating by Fleur de Lis staff, friends and relatives. The close-knit staff comprises Connie; her sister, Shorty Martin; Mary Beth Hughes and Linda Vittitow, both of whom were Connie’s classmates at Jeffersonville High School; and Leaha Shaughnessy, Linda’s neice.

The close-knit staff includes (from left) owner Connie Schleuning, Linda Vittitow and Shorty Martin.

“The name ‘Mercí’ just seemed to go with ‘Fleur de Lis’,” Connie said. “We decided that it should be a clothing store, for no particular reason other than the fact that we love pretty clothes. All Louisville women do.”

Connie and her staff travel to market shows in New York and Atlanta for the latest and best fashions. Now that the more formal dresses of Derby season have gone, they have been savoring summer styles from designers such as Nanette Lepore, Pink Tartan, and Britt Ryan.

“We like colors, so we’ve put an emphasis on brightness. Even our white and black clothes look bright,” she said. “I used to go around in a golf shirt, but now I’m stepping out a little.”

Mercí’s goals include carrying a wide range of sizes – from 0 to 14, although not in every item – and clothing that appeals to more than one generation. As the youngest member of the buying team, Leaha helps bring in the “younger taste level.”

“We also have a good range of shoppers: We sold Derby dresses to girls going to their high school dances, but also to an 80-year-old lady,” she said. “Sometimes, there is crossover for the same item.”

Mercí carries jewelry, including handmade selections by local designers W&M Custom Jewelry, and Coquettish Designs. At present, the only footwear is fancy flip-flops, which also have been sold at Fleur de Lis. Reading glasses by Eyebobs are on display as well.

Amanda Uprichard’s blue top, Yumi sweaters, and Henry & Belle jeans beckon shoppers.

“People see these pretty things and think that hanging them up is all there is to do, but we have to open all the boxes and break them down,” Connie said. “That kind of thing takes a lot of effort and time. My husband is a tremendous help and so understanding. He pitches in a lot.”

The payoff for that hard work is the tide of customers that continues to roll in. Some shoppers are long-time Fleur de Lis patrons, while others are new to both stores.

“There’s a lot of value in being next door to The Cheddar Box, too, and across from Paul’s Fruit Market, because everyone in St. Matthews goes to them,” she said. “The greatest compliment we’ve gotten came from Nancy (Tarrant) at The Cheddar Box – she said, ‘I’m thankful to be located next to Mercí, because we’re now getting people we’ve never seen.’ ”

Mercí Boutique, 3911 Chenoweth Square, is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 502.893.4252.