Francisville is permanently closed, but Grandmother’s Buttons jewelry can still be found locally at the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum store and the Old Crow Gallery. Francisville store “the best shopping in town,” while Victoria once observed “Once you step into the former bank lobby, there’s no turning back: Visitors linger for hours at the teller windows tendering jewelry displays.” T
hese magazines and many others have made the trek to our historic small town to visit our grand old bank building turned destination gift shop and jewelry studio. Most are surprised to find both a plentiful supply of unique button jewelry, and a sophisticated, eclectic assortment of clothing and home goods on such a sleepy and history-steeped residential street. It all began when owner and designer Susan Garrett Davis was a small child in this lovely but quiet Mississippi River town. She vividly remembers being awe-struck by the bank’s 16-foot ceilings, carved oak panels and mosaic tile floors. No part of her could have imagined that she would eventually buy the bank building, create a button museum in the old vault and install her mother’s button tins in a case there! Susan and her husband Donny bought the circa 1905 Bank of Commerce and Trust building in 1994, opening the store and button museum in 1995. Today the store houses two huge cases of button jewelry, along with 2,400 square feet of apparel, gifts and decorative accessories. Many customers come from far away every year to stock up on the newest jewelry designs, regional crafts, and vintage-inspired clothing and accessories.
