Newton Citizen

Collectibles are on display in this glass case at ASBerry's.

Beth Tanner Berry holds fond memories of Olde Town Conyers where as a child she regularly visited Beasley's department store to buy school supplies and Kay's Bridal store to buy Little People dolls. Now that she is a mother, she wants her children to experience the same kind of small town shopping.

To that end, she and her husband James Berry have opened ASBerry's Gifts, Hobbies & More at 916 Commercial St. in Olde Town Conyers.

The store carries a variety of items, including antiques and collectibles, that the couple has purchased from auctions and estate sales. A sampling of the stock includes vintage model car kits, Lionel trains, Cabbage Patch lunch boxes, paintings, lamps, glassware, jewelry and purses.

"We love being around it and we love passing it on and our kids love it, too," James Berry said.

Born and raised in Conyers, Beth and James Berry are the parents to daughter Sara, 9, a student at Hightower Trail Elementary, and son Andrew, 14, who attends Conyers Middle School. The couple incorporated the first letters of their children's first names into the name of their store.

The Berrys intend to have children's craft activities every second and fourth Saturday at the store, so the kids can work on projects while mom and dad shop.

At the holidays, the couple plans to set up a Santa workshop where families can come in and get their picture taken with the jolly old elf.

"We want to get more going on like there used to be," Beth Berry said. "We're not here to be millionaires. We want a nice business, to make a living, and we want people to come down here."

To learn more, call 770-922-0822 or visit www.asberrysgifts.com.