Master Wire Sculptor Inc. Expands with purchase of Downtown Vicksburg Property The four adjoining buildings, located in the Historic District of Vicksburg, Mississippi, date to about 1870. Plans include restoration of the facades and expansion of business efforts.
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - Preston and Mary Reuther proprietors of Master Wire Sculptor 1600 Clay Street announce the acquisition of properties in the downtown historic district of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The four adjoining buildings, dating to approximately 1870 are located at 707, 709, 711, and 713 Clay Street. All storefronts individually housed a variety of businesses, including the O’Neal-McNamara Hardware Store.
“Our plans for the properties include restoration of the exterior facades in a manner consistent with guidelines of the historic district. The interior space allows for expansion of our business interests as well as possibilities for additional endeavors that will contribute to economic development in downtown Vicksburg,” Reuther said.
The Reuther’s moved to Vicksburg from Slidell, Louisiana, five years ago. Prior recognition of the Reuther’s in historic preservation includes several residential acquisitions through out downtown Vicksburg.
Master Wire Sculptor is an internet based jewelry business specializing in wire and wire working tools, instructional DVDs, beading and beading supplies for wholesalers.
Reuther responded to the following questions, when asked about plans for occupancy of the space:
1) What prompted your decision to acquire commercial space in Downtown Vicksburg?—I believe that one day very soon Downtown Vicksburg will be a mecca for visitors and I would love to be part of it. Plus that old building is really cool! When you walk into that building it is like going back in time.
2) How much square footage do these four properties provide? I think its about 40,000 square feet so there’s lots of possibilities. Plus we acquired all the land behind it so were going to have adequate parking for about 50 cars.
3) Do you anticipate a move to the new location for Master Wire Sculptor? Our plans are to relocate our jewelry supply business to one of the buildings and open up a wholesale outlet for people in the trade. Some of our market research indicates that there are about 1500 resellers of jewelry and jewelry supplies within a 75 mile radius of Vicksburg and these people traditionally order from a paper catalog. I feel that they would travel to downtown Vicksburg to make their wholesale purchases.
4) What are some other possibilities for this space? My wife and I are avid antique collectors and are considering turning part of it into an antique mall if the demand among antique vendors is there. We have lots of space.
5) Are you targeting displaced businesses from the Mississippi coastal areas and from New Orleans to use the space? Not yet, but we have been approached by several businesses and are looking at all of our options. Anyone with a plan can make a simple proposal and if it is good for Downtown Vicksburg we will entertain it. I’m going to make an effort to allow business that can provide more traffic to the downtown area into the space. I don’t think a passive business with little traffic would be beneficial to the downtown area.
6) How much work is needed to prepare the interior for
