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From
a 200 square foot back alley shop to California’s Finest Collective
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| Ron
and Julie Palladino began their antique business in Los Angeles
more than thirty years ago as a hobby that soon developed into
a full scale passion. Originally selling antique clocks at swap
meets and garage sales, they opened their first antique clock
showroom and repair shop in 1973 — in a two-car garage off an
alley in West Los Angeles. Within a year they expanded to a larger
showroom (10’ x 40’) with somewhat higher visibility.
In 1977 they fell in love with the charming village of Solvang
while visiting, and decided to move their rather humble antique
clock business out of the city and into the “country”. Their little
repair shop quickly grew to include a 750 square foot retail showroom,
and within a year employed six people.
By their second year Ron and Julie began R&D
of the Renaissance Company, which would grow to become one of
Solvang’s highest profile retail businesses. Within a few years
the Renaissance Companies would occupy four locations in Solvang,
with over 20,000 square feet and 32 employees. |
Our
humble beginnings, c. 1975
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The
Renaissance Companies pioneered new territory in Solvang by introducing
world class merchandise to a marketplace traditionally geared towards
inexpensive products, and proved without a doubt that it was possible
to draw sophisticated buyers to Solvang from every corner of the
globe.
In the course of growing their businesses, Ron and Julie remodeled
some of Solvang’s most neglected properties, setting higher standards
of design and developing new architectural building techniques which
have spread through the village, enhancing many of Solvang’s best
new properties.
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Our
first television interview, c. 1979.
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The
Palladino’s Solvang Antique Center — an 8,000 square foot
showroom now in its fourteenth year of operation in the award-winning
Old Mill Shops Building — is recognized as one of the finest
Antique Collectives in the country, as well as one of the
few that showcases purely antiques. It continues to grow,
with 65 dealers participating from as far away as London.
Today the Solvang Antique Center offers an overwhelming variety
of quality antiques from estate jewelry and artworks to fine furniture,
lighting and architectural antiques. Ron and Julie still specialize
in antique clocks, music boxes and watches, with one of the largest
selections in the world and the most comprehensive and capable restoration
facility in the U.S. |
Ron giving a
lecture at a National Convention, c. 2003 |
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