Shop caters to lovers of all things French

Tammy Rorem, a long-time antiques fan, fell in love.

“That led to just being on the hunt for more,” Rorem said of her quest for more French tableware.

The Albuquerque native then came across and “old beat-up” tablecloth from France and developed an affinity for the country’s linen, too.

She started amassing dishes, textiles and other vintage goods — first for her personal use and, eventually, to resell at an indoor flea market. She gained a significant following.

The success of her antiques booth made her think she could turn her hobby and passion into something bigger and — voilà! — her Je L’adore boutique was born.

Rorem’s new Hoffmantown Shopping Center shop is stocked with a variety of authentic French pieces and vintage decor. Rorem expects it to be a hit with her fellow Francophiles and maybe even local interior decorators or film crews.

Aside from a selection of bath and body products, nothing in her shop is brand new. The focus is on unusual pieces that might otherwise be hard to find in the area. The current selection includes a Louis XVI-style window seat, porcelain dishes from Limoges and old French pharmacy boxes.

“It’s just a really nice mix of different things for the home or decorating,” she said.

Rorem actually spent two months designing the shop before opening her doors late last month.

She carefully grouped complementary pieces in a practical way so the 600-square-foot showroom feels like a real living space with separate areas for dining, reading and sleeping.

The lavender-scented ambiance manages to feel both airy and cozy.

“I want to create a space where (customers) love it so much, they want to take a piece with them,” she said.

More than half of the shop’s inventory originated in France, Rorem said. She has a “picker” overseas who scours flea markets and antique shops for cool finds and ships them stateside. Her husband — a well-traveled businessman — also contributes items he finds on his trips. Rorem herself has bought pieces during her own travels which, ironically, have yet to include France.

But she does intend to head there soon and is currently practicing the language.

“It’s been a passion of mine for years,” she said. “I’m planning to go in the fall of this year.”

Je L’adore is located at 8238 Menaul NE, near the intersection of Wyoming. It is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and by appointment.

The phone number is 835-5048.

Revolver closes

Revolver Vintage is closing its doors after 10 years in Nob Hill.

Sunday was the last regular business day at the shop, although co-owner Das Anastasiou said customers still have a short shopping window. Staff — now in packing mode — should be on site through the end of this week and can still make sales.

“If there’s anything that someone wants last minute, now is their chance,” he said.

Anastasiou, who owns the shop with his wife Samantha, said Revolver is closing because the building it rents — located at 3507 Central NE — was put up for sale.

Business had been OK, he said.

“I had no intention of going anywhere,” he said. “My wife’s dad moved here because we were here, and it was all because of the shop. It’s been a real big blow.”

The Revolver owners even tried to buy the building— part of the Roma E. Disco Trust B — but their offer was rejected.

Trustee Gary Disco said Revolver’s offer did not meet certain criteria laid out prior to the sale. He said a sale agreement has been reached with a different buyer but would not identify the party because the deal has not closed.

Disco declined to say why the trust decided to sell the property but acknowledged that the sale has created some unexpected acrimony between the involved parties.

Anastasiou said Revolver’s future remains uncertain. The owners still have a significant inventory of vintage clothing, vintage jewelry, accessories and home goods and had not done any deep discounting prior to the store’s closure.

The couple is hoping to reopen their shop — which started in San Francisco — somewhere else in Albuquerque. They have what looks like a promising lead on new space, but Anastasiou said it’s too early to say more.

There is also a chance Revolver could start selling its goods online.

“We’re not sure yet,” he said. “Because this has all happened so quickly, we haven’t really had a plan.”

For more information about Revolver, call 255-2996.

GuitarVista is growing

Stan Burg’s little guitar business has just tripled in size.

GuitarVista — which originated in a 450-square-foot space on Monte Vista NE — recently moved to a 1,500-square-foot storefront at 3117 Silver SE, between Richmond and Bryn Mawr.

“Things are a lot of fun,” said Burg, a former English teacher who turned his music hobby into a business when he retired six years ago.

GuitarVista specializes in acoustic instruments — which includes some banjos, mandolins and ukuleles — but does carry a few electric options.

The shop sells new, used and vintage instruments and also offers appraisals and repairs.

GuitarVista may be growing, but Burg said it has stayed true to its intimate roots and commitment to brands not offered anywhere else in the state.

“I call this a micro-niche market,” he said.

GuitarVista is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The phone number is 268-1133.

If you have retail news to share, contact me at jdyer@abqjournal.com or at 823-3864. For more retail news, check out my blog at abqjournal.com