North Carolina Jeweler has Gem of a Renovation Project
Serving eastern North Carolina since 1948, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry is a family owned-and-operated jewelry store with locations in Greenville, Rocky Mount, Fayetteville and Raleigh. Known throughout the state for its commitment to quality, superior customer service, long tradition of excellence, and product innovation, the firm (over the years) has sought to strategically upgrade its various business environments on a regular basis. A major renovation was recently completed in Raleigh, North Carolina. After months of renovation, Bailey’s 11,000 square foot Cameron Village flagship location became the largest jewelry store in the entire state.
The firm has a well-known slogan, “Every Woman Wants a Bailey Box.” Yet prior to this massive renovation, the exterior of the Cameron Village store looked more like a Big Box retailer’s structure than the sleek, upgraded and inviting building it truly needed… and now, inhabits.
The shopping center plaza was built in the late 70’s with a focus “to be unlike cookie-cutter malls.” The initial design included tree-lined walkways, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants/cafes that welcomed people to a unique shopping experience. Ultimately, time took its toll; the exterior “look” became tired and it became facelift time – especially, for a retailer offering highly stylish, up-to-date “investments in fashion.”
“Bailey’s has always catered to an upscale ‘family clientele,’” stated Michael Beal, Architectural Sales Manager for Arriscraft, manufacturer of beautiful, high-performance, naturally made products that emulate quarried stone for both commercial and residential applications. “This store in particular always had a high-end appearance, both inside and out, which made a strong statement to the demographic it focused upon. But after time, the Cameron Village location’s exterior clearly seemed to look outdated and frankly, more than just a bit run down. The stucco finish flanked by decorative columns did not seem to be inviting any more. Without question, it was time to rejuvenate!”
Beal went on to state that a design team was brought in for “ideas,” some of which were highly effective. A quick choice was made to partner with Barnhill Contracting Company of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, a highly respected, third-generation builder recently named #1 contractor in the state by the national trade publication, Energy News Record. From there, the owner, the GC and the masonry contractor became the “drivers” of this highly successful facelift.
After decisions were made, one of the first construction exercises was to tear off the old stucco façade and then frame the building’s exterior, getting it ready for an updated building envelope system that included an air and water cavity to protect the structure from extreme weather conditions. Once framed and ready to go, the process to clad the building’s exterior with Arriscraft ¾” Renaissance® Thin-Clad masonry units began. Specification of this product line was plain and simple. Renaissance® ARRIS.tile units are manufactured to tight dimensional tolerances and mirror natural stone for high strength, high density, extremely low water absorption and overall outstanding durability. They offer natural colors and their through-body color ensures that uneven fading and bleaching will not occur over time. The stone breathes and ages naturally. And, they can be cut, chiseled, dressed or worked on site. “We knew Renaissance® in the color “Limestone” was the right product for Bailey’s exterior,” added Beal. “It was obvious our customer needed the right masonry contractor, one familiar with our materials, to correctly adhere it to the building’s external surface.”
As it turned out, selecting that “right” masonry contractor was about as elementary as choosing Renaissance® for the material to be used. Custom Brick and Supply Company, a Raleigh “construction institution” for years, got the nod with Ben Aiken, the firm’s Cast Stone Manager, taking the lead. “This job took roughly four months,” he stated. “It was truly a unique project consisting of just under 1500 square feet of highly detailed work. Right from the start, it was evident this was a highly professional undertaking, as all involved were 100% invested in partnering together to achieve an outcome with optimal results.”
The building’s new exterior included arches, corniches and bullnose stone applications. “We knew we had the best product with the Arriscraft material,” added Aiken. “But the constant contributions and on-site input from the dependable people of that company helped make this job flow even more smoothly.”
The grand re-opening of the Bailey’s Fine Jewely Cameron Village flagship location took place late in 2014. It was a gala affair, to say the least. To kick off the festivities, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held. The celebration continued when the public was given the opportunity to view the new space, shop and socialize with drinks, appetizers and a chance to win prizes. In addition, Bailey’s hosted its largest diamond show in its company’s history.
“We’re so excited (about) our grand re-opening,” stated Clyde Bailey, president and owner of Bailey’s Fine Jewelry. “We’ve been growing rapidly, and the renovations really allow us to show all of our expanded collections as well as introduce some new designers. We know our patrons are going to love it!”
The largest jewelry retailer in North Carolina had a very successful renovation, which resulted in positive customer traffic, most likely increased sales… and, much, much more. But on top of that, this flagship location is clad with a naturally made stone façade system that will keep the exterior appearance of the store looking like new for decades. The important and expensive materials housed within the interior of Bailey’s Fine Jewelry of Raleigh, North Carolina are now protected by one of the most dependable, high-performance thin-clad products offered on today’s market.
Project Name: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
Project Location: Raleigh, NC
GC: Barnhill Contracting Company of Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Product: ARRIS.tile Renaissance®
Colour: Limestone