Olaf Growald
Talk about a career change. Laura Simmons, a 25-year police officer, retired two years ago and spent a year working in her husband’s jewelry store, Simmons Estate Jewelers, in Fort Worth. Then in January, Simmons, who’d dabbled in vintage for years as a photographer, opened her own vintage shop, Studio 74 Vintage, on the bricks at 4908 Camp Bowie Blvd., near the jewelry store.
Simmons has filled the store with finds she gets at estate sales and in private sales, coming up with pieces, for one, formerly owned by Priscilla Davis. Leon Bridges — Simmons messaged him on Instagram and he dropped by — and Armond Vance, the Fort Worth musician, have become customers.
“I’m an old soul,” says Simmons, who started in photography 10 years ago, styling her subjects in vintage pieces and shooting an array of magazine covers.
Simmons has built the purchasing side of the business on relationships with operators of estate sales. “There’s a handful that will let me preview their sales. I’m always first in line at these sales.” She also advertises that she buys vintage.
And not that Simmons is the only one chasing these finds. “The competition is getting stronger and stronger.”
Simmons’ customers are a blend. “I really didn’t know what to expect. It’s a very good mix of young and old and male and female. I’m really surprised at the number of men looking for vintage now. Younger men want to look different.”
Bridges came in soon after Simmons sent him a direct message. “He never messaged me back. I went a few days, and he walked in the door.” Simmons doesn’t sell online. “I want to keep it all here for my locals.”
Why Camp Bowie? “I looked all over the place for a building to lease. This was during COVID. And I was scared to death whether I was doing the right thing or not. I did put a lease offer on the South Side, and it didn’t work out. They chose another client.”
The small 2,400-square-foot space is in a strip center with an Olivella’s Neo Pizza Napoletana restaurant, Gunter TV & Appliance, Hale House Fort Worth gift shop, and across the street from Kincaid’s burger restaurant.
“I just have to maximize my space because I don’t want to leave,” she says. She washes every piece she buys. “I obsess over the tiniest spot. If it has a blemish, it doesn’t go in my store.”
Simmons likes to buy items from the ’50s through the ’80s, in men’s, women’s, and children’s. “As long as it’s in mint condition. All of this has a story.”
Vintage prices have risen, she says. “Even the estate sales have figured out how popular it is.”