From his love of storytelling to connecting with customers, J. C. Burnett, who was known as “Mr. B,” has left a lasting impression on the development of Pinehurst and its residents and visitors. In 1983 Burnett built and opened the iconic Pinehurst Trade Center on a vacant lot along Hwy. 249 to embrace his hobby of selling antique wares and collectibles. After 32 years in business, J. C.’s daughter and new owner Cheryl Burnett said there are still a number of longtime customers who return to the shop after many years and immediately ask to see “Mr. B.” Burnett said her father's memory lives on even after his death in 2009. “They would come in and say, ‘Is Mr. B here?’” Burnett said. “I would say, ‘No, but I’ve been here 25 years, too. I can help you.’ They say, ‘No, we just came to see Mr. B and hear his stories.’ He was a good man, and he would help anybody that would help themselves. He worked very hard.” Since taking ownership six years ago, Burnett has worked to preserve the shop’s history while adding modern-day touches, such as a boutique with clothes, accessories and shoes as well as handcrafted furniture, signs, home decor and traditional antiques. Though the shop no longer sells its once-popular vintage tools and Mason jars, Burnett said she is marketing a new name for the location to better encompass its wide range of products—Galleria of Pinehurst. “People might not know that the shop has totally changed,” she said. “From the primitives and decor to special furniture and accessories, it’s all in its place now. People say, ‘I’ve never been here before. I didn’t know y’all had all of this.’” Donna Hamilton, Burnett's lifelong friend and Painted Ladies Boutique owner, and Hamilton’s son-in-law Shawn Walker, co-owner of Rocking 7W Custom Furniture, also sell their wares at the shop. The trio frequently host fundraisers to support customers in need and donate to local nonprofits. “We all help each other,” Burnett said. “We’re all here as much as we can be. We are family. If it wasn’t for them, I couldn’t be here.” Generations of customers routinely visit the shop and bring their friends who are visiting from nearby cities and states, Hamilton said. “We just plan on continuing to bring new things in all the time,” Hamilton said. “We’re going to try to stay up to date with what’s going on. We are going to paint the building turquoise and red. We’re just trying to improve all the time.” Galleria of Pinehurst 34519 Hwy. 249, Pinehurst 281-259-3378 • www.facebook.com/PinehurstTradeCenter Hours: Thu. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.