SHELBY — For Tonya Bishop, dreams really do come true.
When she met her husband in 1994, she said one of the things she always told him was she wanted to own a business.
“This store became available in November, and I asked my husband,” Bishop said. “He goes, ‘Is that what you really want?’ I said, ‘I’d like to give it a shot.'”
After a slow start in November, Bishop said that her business, Mallory’s Treasures, is booming. Her made-from-scratch bath and body products, ponchos and jewelry were liked so much by the Shelby community, she felt the need for expansion.
“What got us going was our bath bombs,” she said. “We try really hard to keep those up because we sell out so quickly.”
On Sunday, she held an open house at 21 Main St. to show off the new digs.
“It is a special opening since we just moved in. We invited the community to come in and shop. We want to show that we are here and here to stay,” Bishop said.
A new addition to the store is modified furniture. Bishop said she likes to find furniture and redo it.
“I’m more of a shabby chic, but I know there are people who enjoy primitive items,” she said.
The business philosophy is keeping the products at “small town prices,” she said.Â
“I think if we keep home-town community pricing, we can make (the business) fly,” she added.Â
Bishop moonlights as a teacher at Sherman elementary school where she teaches first-graders. She has been teaching for 18 years.
The future remains bright for Mallory’s Treasures. Bishop said she wants to have a space where parties can be thrown.
“We’re still putting things together. I’ve got to get some more tables and chairs,” she said. “Anything goes. I want to do painting classes, kids parties, birthday parties, baby showers. Basically anything goes.”
Scribed on the party space’s back wall, is Mallory’s Treasures with the phrase, “Dreams really do come true…”
“Anyone who really wants something can achieve it,” she said laughing. “It only took me since the ’90’s to achieve it.”
