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Historic Wheeling Jewelry Store Transforms into a Shimmering Event Venue July 24, 2023 (0 comments)

Wheeling, WV--Once a bustling jewelry store, the property at 1306 Market St., in the heart of downtown Wheeling, has shed its shell of emptiness and now serves as a stylish event venue.

[Photo by Derek Redd via The Intelligencer]

According to a news report published in The Intelligencer, the former Posins Jewelry site has been repurposed by local sisters Brooke Wetmore and Natalie Hamilton, who viewed the derelict space as an opportunity rather than an eyesore. Adding two residential apartments on the upper floors, the ground level now serves as '1306', a bespoke venue for intimate gatherings of up to 100 people.

Raised in Wheeling, the duo was fueled by a desire to breathe new life into the town's historic architecture. "I moved back to Wheeling probably about three or four years ago, and growing up here, I just always knew that if I was going to come back that I would want to rehab a historic building or a house," she said, as per the report.

The Posins Jewelry store held a vibrant presence in downtown Wheeling from 1934 until the early 2000s, nestled in a building believed to originate from the 1880s. The sisters' restoration work honored this past while injecting modern comforts into the space.

The refreshed 1306 venue boasts an open commercial kitchen, cozy sitting areas, an original Posins Jewelry safe repurposed for modern use, diverse seating options, and two ADA-accessible restrooms. The original tin ceiling of Posins Jewelry has been restored, along with the vintage window frames. A specially curated display of Posins Jewelry receipts from the 1940s is a fitting tribute to the building's storied past.

Wetmore aimed to intertwine modern style with a sense of warmth in the venue design, envisioning it as a space where celebrations feel like home gatherings. "Our tagline is 'gather here,' so we want people to feel comfortable," she stated in the report.

This venture was very much a family affair. With property ownership and logistical support from their parents, Hamilton focused on the residential transformation while Wetmore spearheaded the event venue development. 

Their project was partially funded by historic tax credits through the State Historic Preservation Office. The sisters' role in reviving a piece of downtown Wheeling is a point of pride for them, and they hope their success will ignite similar efforts in the community.

Learn more in the entire report on The Intelligencer.