Barone’s Revolution Clothiers & Co. on Main Street

STORY BY KRIS TESTORI

On any given day, it’s not unusual to see Revolution Clothiers & Co. owner Barone strolling in front of his store while engaging with tourists walking along Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock. Dressed in a distinctive outfit and carrying one of his trademark walking sticks, his fervent love for both people and eclectic fashion is evident.

The clothier, known by his mononym, Barone, is the director of operations and a partner at Revolution, selling men’s and women’s fashion, eclectic gifts, and luxe accessories.

When I met with Barone, he was wearing one of his signature suits, a black and white custom-made Saint Laurent cape, numerous statement rings, and he was carrying his “go to” walking stick that he’s named Charlie. To top off the look, he wore a dark gray Homberg hat with a thick black hat band ribbon.

“I never fell into the realm of conformity,” Barone said. “I just want to be me, do me, man. Some days, I favor wearing Victorian suiting, with the flocking and the ability to accessorize. Sometimes I prefer early Scandinavian clothing, with skins and furs and drapings, and other times its Renaissance fashion with beautiful fabrics and posh luxe. I think there is something inside of everybody that can relate to a fashion era and is attracted to it. If I want to look like the Prince of Norway and have the option in my closet, I can. If on another day I want to look like I am a Renaissance man or Victorian guy walking with his top hat and a walking stick, I have options where I can do all of that.”

“I've always said, within this concrete jungle, [clothing style] is my armor,” Barone continued. “People will either hate it and talk jazz about it or love it. But you need to know that none of these people are on my radar when I get dressed. What is on my radar is what makes me feel the best version of me today. So I can then radiate it out to you. The best version of me that I can possibly be.”

Blowing Rock Chose Him

When asked how he chose Blowing Rock as his second location for Revolution, Barone replied, “I feel like Blowing

Rock chose me.” He explains how the most peculiar object—a purple chaise longue—led him to open his boutique downtown.

“I’ve always loved this area, but it was the purple chaise lounge that brought me here,” Barone said. “The gal who owned this place prior to me had a purple chaise lounge in her shop. And I was just in love with it. I would always call her and ask about the purple chaise lounge. She was not selling it. One day I went down to the wish tree at the block's end, and I wrote out my intentions to the universe that I wanted to be here in Blowing Rock, and I wanted our store to be here.”

He said a few months later the former owner called him and asked, “do you want to get me out of here?”

In November of 2020, Barone’s wish came true, and he opened the second Revolution location in Blowing Rock, in the former shop where the purple chaise lounge was. Barone travels between this location and the original Revolution, located in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte.

The wish tree Barone was referring to was commonly called the Prayer Tree. It was known for its collection of thousands of prayer cards and encouraging messages tied to a tree just outside the front door of Take Heart Boutique at the corner of Main Street and Maple Street. Set up by Sherri

Furman, owner of the boutique, the shop was devastated by a fire in 2019; however, the fire didn’t burn one of the 14,000 prayers on the tree. Furman rebuilt the store in 2022. The prayers, which had climbed to 40,000 after the fire, were mixed into the foundation and walls of the store. Barone’s wish is inside the walls of the store.

Barone says the local business community greeted him with open arms.

“That’s the best thing about this community –I can be a part of what other businesses before me created,” he said. “I want to see Blowing Rock grow, and I want to wow the customers. I am newer, obviously, and I am more eclectic. I feel like by opening our shop in this building, we actually brought back the nostalgic feel to the interior of this building. When we came in, it was white tile floors, drop ceilings and pure amigo blue walls. I feel like the shop now has a much homier, a more Blowing Rock look and feel.”

Barone completely updated the interior of the building, restoring the hardwood floors the previous owner had covered in tile. He installed a traditional ceiling with small spotlights showcasing

- BARONE

the product and painted the entire store warmly. A custom-made rack system displays the merchandise and sits on top of animal print rugs.

The walls are adorned with ornate metal animal heads, including a sizable purple unicorn with a gold horn. The quote next to it says, “Dude what's your point?” Other wall quotes include, “I see you, I get you, I love you,” and “I'm jealous of the fabric holding your clothes.”

As customers enter the store, Barone builds a rapport with them. He compliments many of them on an item of clothing or accessory they are wearing. Armed with years of experience in the fashion industry, Barone points out brands and styles as guests come and go.

When I interviewed him, a customer walked into the store wearing a babushka, a scarf tied under the chin. He smiled at her and said, “I like your babushka; I like how you wear that with the white – it's super fun.”

With other guests, particularly groups of women, he teases and flirts with them – often calling them love or my love. “I am the Mad Hatter in the rabbit hole,” Barone said. “There are not a lot of folks that will dedicate their life to what I have. I have dedicated myself to knowing where the textile world leads. Knowing where the cotton comes from, how you source your leather, how you make it, and who your vendor is.”

Barone credits his father's mother, who he calls Nanny, and his mother for his introduction to fashion and shopping. “They were all hippies coming out of a major fashion movement,” he said. “I’ve always been attracted to clothing; I always say if you cut me, I bleed cotton.” Barone grew up splitting his time between Charlotte with his mother and Miami with his Nanny. “Fashion is my destiny,” he said. “I love the fashion world; it's the only avenue I've ever found that drops the wall that people so easily put up, and it creates a bridge for people to relate to, and that's what I love about clothing.”

The products Revolution offers are unique and well-curated, with a range

The store sells upscale men's and women’s clothing and jewelery representing a variety of periods and styles. You can also find fun gifts for everyone. Who doesn't need a Dolly Parton quote on their desk? Photos by Josh Floyd

BARONE

of things to interest all ages and different types of people. The upscale men and women’s clothing offers an assortment of contemporary designers and independent labels and represents a variety of periods and styles.

The gift selection can only be described as eclectic, funky, bordering on ridiculous, and super fun. “Sometimes I like the shock factor,” Barone explains. As you enter the store, you're greeted with a row of shiny ceramic balloon dogs in bright colors. Book offerings include “Stoners Coffee Table Book”; “Zombie Catchers Handbook”; a nature coloring book, and “Taxi Driver Wisdom.”

“I think people recognize they are at home when they enter the store,” Barone shared. “I give [the customers] an opportunity to just be themselves. I sell cocktail napkins that say, ‘I need a cocktail… hold the tail,’ and when I hear people laugh at that, to hear that laughter from that one napkin. I know I’ve done my thing.”

Skulls, furs, thumbs-up statues, crowns, and cats (including cat napkins) are common themes among the items for sale at Revolution. You can buy both a coffee cup and a candle with the quote, “you can't polish a turd.”

Many of the gift items Barone carries may be considered super naughty or even risque. “What my partner and I buy–well, we buy things that amuse us,” he said. “I have a fun personality, so I feel like if it makes me laugh, it will make the people laugh. I always say the Revolution is for the people.”

During his first month in business, Christmas of 2020, Barone recalls a day when an elderly customer came into the shop dressed very conservatively. The customer went over to the Christmas tree, adorned with ornaments some might think were inappropriate. “I immediately thought she would give me the come-to-Jesus speech,” Barone said. “She goes over to the tree. It has penis ornaments on it, boobs on it, gingerbread people doing unmentionable things on it, all of it. She takes all these penis ornaments off–she comes up to the counter, lays them all out, and looks up at me. 'I was like, so how did you do?'