Treasure Hunter’s Gallery features handcrafted items made by local artists as well as unique major-label brand name goods.[/caption]

Treasure Hunter’s Gallery has a storied history, much like the building in which it resides. The boutique is located on the first floor of an old hotel whose previous owner was known for taking a hatchet to establishments that served alcohol during the Prohibition era.

Throughout the month of October, tour guides take visitors and Geiger counters to the building in search of paranormal activity, while customers mill around the boutique.

Owner Marlene Dame is from Sugar Land, but she said she fell in love with the building when she drove around downtown Richmond for the first time more than a decade ago.

“It’s got that small-town feel,” she said. “We’ve got the little restaurant down the street, the post office and just a nice sense of community.”

In the 12 years that Dame has been in business on Morton Street, she said she has made an effort to provide unique gift items and historic decorative features to match the spirit of the building.

Some of these historic features are antique light fixtures, a vintage AstroWorld sign and a sawed-in-half vintage Chevy car that sits in front of the store.

The merchandise in the store’s multiroom layout include artisan items crafted by local Texans. Dame said her personal favorites are the handmade mosaic crosses and furniture made from refurbished shutters.

The store offers clothing, furniture, shoes and gifts, including jewelry and wedding items.[/caption]

Even the non-artisan items maintain her vision for the store. Dame said she attends gift markets across the country, from Atlanta to California, to bring new products to Richmond.

“We try to get things you can’t find at a chain store,” Dame said. “We use a lot of different sources when we go to market, so we aren’t limited to products from one region of the country.”

Dame said she hopes the store will give customers a wide array of goods and an entertaining shopping experience, while making its own history in the downtown neighborhood.

“We want [customers] to remember they had a good time and have them come back,” she said.