JES & GRAY LIVING

BUSINESS MATTERS

Jes & Gray Living

STORY & PHOTOS BY BETSY ILER

Jes & Gray Living this summer opened in a beloved landmark storefront on Broad Street Plaza in downtown Alexander City, featuring lake style furnishings and accessories. The new arrival adds a previously missing dimension to the growing vibe in the heart of town.

More than a hundred years of style history still emanates from the brick walls and heart pine flooring in the building that, for more than 20 years, has been known as “the old Frohsin building.” But with the help of local designers Keith Little and Stuart Brassell, Beyond Borders’ Rebekah Osborn and Stock and Trade Design Company’s Michael Carey bring waterscape inspired home design to lake area clients.

After months of renovation work that honors the building’s story, the first storefront for the new casualbright retail concept opened softly in early May with light, airy, innovative design in creams, silvers, grays and whites accented in coastal and nautical blues.

“It’s geared toward the lake and coastal design,” explained Osborn, who started her career in retail furniture in Louisiana in 2005.

After franchising her concept, she moved into the Beyond Borders wholesale business, spending six years in Bali and Indonesia.

“That had a big influence in design for me,” she said. “I loved the bamboo, rattan, the exotic hardwoods and teakwood.”

Stock & Trade’s distribution center has been located in Rockford, Alabama, for several years, and now will serve in that capacity for Jes & Gray Living as well. As she visits the distribution facility every month or so, Osborn began to look around the area for corporate housing.

“We wanted to be able to spend a week and feel at

home. We looked on Airbnb and VRBO, and everything is very booked up. Then we found this amazing building in Alexander City,” she said. “As we researched the lake area, we could see that it’s a phenomenal location for this concept. Geared toward lake and beach, we decided to make this our flagship store. We are just so in love with the area.”

Jes & Gray Living will open a second store in Destin, Florida, later this year.

The store’s name is derived from the middle names of Osborn’s 7-year-old daughter and Carey’s daughter, also 7.

The beautiful new retail store carries everything from patio furnishings to comfy-cozy sofas, acacia wood and mahogany tables, rugs, chandeliers, bed linens and comforters and bedroom suites, accent tables and more. The transitional styles pair well with beloved traditional heirlooms, as well as mid-century modern treasures.

There’s even a Designed for Lake Life bargain basement Clockwise from Left: The old feature reminiscent Frohsin's building is now home to of the building’s history. Most of the furnishings are Jes & Gray Living, a fresh concept for lake and coastal design; Wildlife--inspired accessories complement the airy, innovative furniture lines; Jewelry, hats and designed by other clothing items dress up the Osborn’s mother, hostess, as well as the home. Sharlene Boyle, who has designed for the wholesale furniture division for many years.

“We also have fulltime designers in the Bali office, and we design the textiles and baskets as well. All in easy-care performance fabrics,” Osborn said.

The lifestyle selections include wildlife-inspired art, hair-on-hide accessories and conversation-piece lamps,

pillows and poofs, along with jewelry and clothing accessory items that could make the hostess look as fresh and lively as the house.

The backdrop for the breezy, water-oriented home décor is none other than Alexander City’s legacy upscale department store. Known simply as “Frohsin’s,” the brick and glass storefront housed the Frohsin family mercantile, founded in 1890 and home of what today is the state’s longest running outdoor concert series. Jazz Fest, which last month celebrated its 32nd annual event in downtown Alexander City and at Lake Martin Amphitheater, was launched in 1990 as Ralph Frohsin’s gift to the community on the store’s 100th anniversary.

Carey purchased the building last winter. Since then, the brick front has been refaced, and new windows were installed. The rich, ages-old floors were re-stained. The entry has been reconfigured to showcase vignettes of Jes & Gray Living furnishings.

The third floor overlooking Alexander City’s historic downtown will house a fabulous three-bedroom loft apartment and intimate event space. The original brick walls and heart pine floors will complement sleek modern finishes in comfort and style. The location is central to downtown events, like the 2022 Songwriters Festival Main Street Concert on July 30.

Another advantage for Osborn and Carey was choosing Little and Brassell to head up the flagship store. The team has more than 50 years of combined design experience in the Flagship Shopping lake area. They Facing Page: The bricks were have arranged Jes refaced and new windows were & Gray Living’s product line at the new store with such warm, installed for the store's soft opening in May; Above: Slipcovers, accent pillows and tables in transitional styles fit any décor. welcoming appeal that customers may be tempted to settle in for an afternoon and browse the assortment of coffee table books featured throughout the store. They will offer free personal service to customers from a second-floor design department for made-to-order furnishings and finishes.

“From one item to a whole house,” Little said. “We also have designer and realtor programs, as well as a loyalty program. Come talk with us for details.”

Through the affiliation with Beyond Borders and Stock & Trade, Jes & Gray Living has access to an integrated system. From Beyond Borders’ furniture plants in Indonesia and Bali to utilizing Stock & Trade’s distribution center in Rockford, the brand has greater control over production and delivery than has become usual in an era of supply chain delays, Little said.

“It’s unique design, not the same thing your neighbor has,” said Little.

Jes & Gray Living at 8 Broad St. in Alexander City is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or by appointment at 256-430-2356.