Evans retires, sells jewelry store, prepares to travel
\nClayton News-Star
\nBy MARGARET RITCHIE
\nEditor,February 15, 2006<\/p>\n
For more than 10 years, Wilbert D. Evans traveled the roads of North and South Carolina putting on jewelry shows for large discount stores before settling down to his own jewelry store in Smithfield in 1989.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now, Evans is ready to travel again \u00e2\u20ac\u201c he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to be driving a 40-foot recreational travel vehicle while he and his wife, Nelda, tour the East Coast, from Florida to Rhode Island over the next year.<\/p>\n
Evans, who opened Evans Jewelers at 236 E. Main St. here in 1991, retired last week, selling his well-established store to Edward W. Austermuehle and his wife, Debbie.<\/p>\n
Main Street Jewelers will keep the current employees, with Connie Hicks as store manager.<\/p>\n
Evans, who will be 70 in June, said that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been thinking about retirement for several years, but it took a heart attack back in September to convince him. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153My doctor told me I had to,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to travel,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Evan said, displaying photos of the spiffy spiffy new RV he has purchased. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153First we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to Disney World. While it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cold (here), we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to Florida.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
They plan to travel down the coast on U.S. 117, stopping in Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., on the way.<\/p>\n
His wife said that when it gets warmer, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll head up the coast, to Amish Country and to Providence, R.I. Their dog, Penny, a Dachshund, will be riding along.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We want to go to Colorado, too,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be later.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Both are natives of Johnston County \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Evans grew up on a farm about four miles out Little Creek Church Road, and his wife is from Smithfield.<\/p>\n
She said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re looking forward to spending time together. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re together here (at the store), but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not the same.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She retired from Carolina Power and Light Co. about five years ago and has been helping out at the store since then.<\/p>\n
Evans, who has been working since 1957, started out with the A&P Tea Co., and after taking some business courses, had progressed into management training by 1968. He was going to be a store manager.<\/p>\n
Then he met a man selling cookware, and he decided for a change.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I became a pretty good cook,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, since he had to prepare a meal for clients to convince them to purchase the cookware.<\/p>\n
Before long, Evans saw a jewelry show and had a conversation with the man in charge. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It was a small company, and they needed a salesman, so I signed on,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n
For the next 10 years, he traveled North and South Carolina, selling jewelry to big discount stores in both states.<\/p>\n
Then he opened his own jewelry store in Smithfield in 1989.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But my heart was here in Clayton,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So in 1991, I sold the store there and moved to Clayton. I bought this building from Dot Parker \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it used to be part of the dime store.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He is sincere in his love for the town. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want my children and grandchildren to be able to walk the streets here like I did,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a wonderful place to live.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Main Street was the only U.S. 70 when he was growing up. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This out here was 70 highway,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said.<\/p>\n
Evans Jewelers has been open here since Sept. 11, 1991, serving a customer base of about 5,000 with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quality service and exceptional products.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d They also do jewelry and watch repairs on site.<\/p>\n
Last year, Evans was named to the National Who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Who in Executives and Professionals.<\/p>\n
But now it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for him to travel for pleasure, not business.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll miss it,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But people will keep coming (to the store). I appreciate the support of the people in Clayton. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve given them support, too.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
He is proud of his professional sales career and credits his success to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hard work.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
While the couple won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be as easily available on Main Street from now own, the Evanses will be around \u00e2\u20ac\u201c they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re keeping their house here. They are members of First Baptist Church, where he has served as a Deacon.<\/p>\n
They will spend more time with the 10 grandchildren, too. Their daughter, Freida, lives in Boone with her five children; Daniel Jr. lives in Smithfield with his two boys; and daughter Anita lives near Sarasota, Fla., with her three children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Evans retires, sells jewelry store, prepares to travel Clayton News-Star By MARGARET RITCHIE Editor,February 15, 2006 For more than 10 years, Wilbert D. Evans traveled the roads of North and South Carolina putting on jewelry shows for large discount stores before settling down to his own jewelry store in Smithfield in 1989. Now, Evans is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n