Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 18, 1993 TAG: 9312180011
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"We wanted to move someplace where the highlight of the evening news was the price of the cows," he said. "There were no murders."
Bob Ridley, who managed a federally funded apartment building in New Jersey, figured it would be easy to find a similar job in Blacksburg because of the high number of student housing complexes.
It wasn't that easy though, and Ridley spent a decade bouncing from job to job around the New River Valley.
He's had jobs at an auto parts store, camera shop and briefly as housing manager for Northview apartments. Ridley's also worked for the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, driven a bus for Blacksburg Transit and the Virginia Tech motor pool.
But he never found a job he liked - until now.
Two months ago, Ridley and his wife decided to turn their hobby into a career and open an antique and craft store at 37 W. Main St.
Georgeson & Co. sells collectibles that Bob Ridley - "a yard sale and auction freak" - has collected over the years.
Handwoven baskets, padded photo albums and carved Santa Claus figurines are made in the store.
Ridley said it normally takes about 30 hours to carve and paint miniature Santa Claus figures that range in price from $25 to $50.
"You don't even make minimum wage when you do it," he said.
The new antique dealer said business has been slow since the store opened, but he's confident it will survive.
"I can't see us not making it," he said.
Ridley said he would like to expand the store eventually and maybe bring in a few more antique dealers.
by CNB