LEXINGTON — For 10 years, Hardware and Roses consignment store was just an idea, hundreds of quickly jotted down plans, goals and projects Arianna Lester scribbled in a notepad when she visited consignment stores across the state.
The ideas leapt off the paper and became a reality when Lester opened her “dream store” at 406 National Blvd. in Lexington in July 2020, just months after the COVID pandemic shut down retailers and restaurants across the state.
It was a scary time for the veteran business woman, who had owned a wedding supply store and specialty cakes business and is the granddaughter of Ardell Lanier, who began Lanier’s Ace Hardware store.
Now, she’s back in the idea phase of developing another business while closing Hardware and Roses. While there is no exact date to close — Lester owns the building, so there is flexibility — it will close soon, and she is selling everything, right down to the fixtures and shelving. She had hoped to sell the business but was unable to find the right fit.
“This closing has nothing to do with the store not doing well,” she said. “It has done well. Our profits went up every year. This place has been a respite and a place to shop without being bothered for many. It’s time. I bought an Air B&B on High Rock Lake and it is doing really well. I am about to be an empty-nester this August. My four children are spreading out everywhere, and I want time to visit them. I also want to buy more Air B&Bs.”
To do that, she needs time, time she won’t have if she keeps open Hardware and Roses. Being an owner/operator of Air B&Bs does not take the time commitment of owning a store, she explained. So much of the rental and marketing is automated on the Air B&B app/website.
Hardware and Roses was more than a consignment store that resold gently used clothing, accessories and household items. Lester also made it a showcase of how a little love, care and renovation of home decor and furniture kept those items out of landfills, and instead proudly displayed in homes. She and Wendy Marion would sometimes cut, glue, paint, re-fabric, or all of the above “found” or consigned furniture that sold for well below retail prices. Entire bedroom suits, dining room tables, hutches, bookshelves and more were upcycled at the store.
A small group of friends, family and employees made the store a success, she stressed, mentioning Marion, Stephanie H. Saintsing, Katie Hoyle, Shawna Jenkins, Christine Hunt and her children, Brianna and Brady Lester. There store went from having about 10 consigners in the beginning to 600.
“This place was my dream,” she said. “The idea of it started on a notepad 10 years before I opened. I made notes every time I visited other consignment stores. To know it went from scribbled ideas in a notepad to this is amazing.”
Saintsing, who has worked part-time with Lester for the past couple of years, said she was upset about the closing but excited for Lester’s new adventure. She started as a customer and consigner at Hardware and Roses and ended up on the payroll.
“I was sad to hear she is closing because of all the people I have met through working here,” Saintsing said. “I enjoyed the interaction with the people I meet. ... Everybody she has told about the closing, their reaction has been sad. They loved coming in this wonderful environment she created.”
Lester also made giving back a part of her store’s bottom line. Each quarter, a new Davidson County charity was chosen to benefit from the sales in her $1 items room and Sip and Shop special events. Additionally, consigners could choose to have 5% of their sales go to the charity. Last year, $3,552 was raised for four charities.
“One of the reasons I wanted to do this was to show other small businesses that you can make a big difference with a dollar here and a dollar there,” Lester said. “It doesn’t take a lot to help.”
Expanding her footprint in the Air B&B industry isn’t her only business plan. Lester would also like to flip homes and possibly serve as a consultant for others wanting to open a consignment store.
“I do want to flip houses, too,” she said. “I would love to flip a house and have everything inside be upcycled ... to show people how you can do this and it look amazing and be affordable.”
She added she would then like to sell tickets for people to view the home and see all the ideas that went into furnishing it. The ticket sales would be donated to charity.
Even with her plans, Lester said it was still a difficult decision to close Hardware and Rose.
“It was a month of pros and cons lists,” she said. “I didn’t want to let the community down, but I had to do what is best for me and my family. The support from the community and customers was fantastic. They were truly committed to our mission.”
