Garrett’s Jewelry & Loan

MINERAL WELLS — If you stroll into Garrett’s Jewelry & Loan you’re guaranteed to be asked, “Wanna a cold one?”
Not the fizzy, adult beverage kind of cold one. We’re talking something much creamier, sweeter and family friendly – as in ice-cream sandwich.
For decades, customers of all ages have been greeted by the shop’s cheerful owner, A.D. Garrett, who is quick to offer them “a cold one” as he dips into a cooler and pulls out the tasty treat.
“If you give them ice cream they’re going to remember that,” said Garrett. “We used to have little girls come in and now they’re married and they’ve got little girls. They come in and tell their little babies how they used to get ice cream here, same as they are now.”
On Saturdays it’s a double whammy. The store also serves up free doughnuts.
Garrett said he has no idea how many sugary goodies he’s given away over the years or how much money he’s spent on them, but it doesn’t matter.
“Because it makes the customer happy,” he noted.
That’s Garrett’s business philosophy, make the customer happy, and he’s stuck by it for some 55 years since taking over the family business from his father, Ace Garrett.
“If you make the customer happy they’ll come back to you,”he said.“And,that’s good.”
He also instructs his employees to emphasize top-notch customer service.
“Because the customers are really the ones who are paying them,” he said.
Garrett and his team go above and beyond to hunt for eclectic treasures they know will please shoppers – everything from a guitar autographed by the rock group Stone Temple Pilots, to taxidermized animals, collectable Zippo lighters, jewelry, toys, artwork, gift items, musical equipment, antiques, tools and much more.
In fact, the store is like a sprawling museum of nostalgia filled with curiosities. Customers will also find original water bottles from the Baker Hotel, a vast array of vintage matchbox cars and even an antique carpet stretcher next to a stuffed rhinoceros head.
Garrett said his father started the pawn shop by purchasing watches for $5 and selling them for $6. He took interest in his dad’s work, always wanted a big store ever since he was a little kid, and he never saw his job as work.
“I always thought of it as a hobby,” he explained. “It’s been fun the whole time I’ve been here and it’s been a good life.”
One he hopes to pass on to his daughter, Kathy Garrett-Gear, who helps him at the store. She started in the business starting when she was just 7 years old.
“He’d give me all the stuff that wouldn’t sell and I’d put it on a table out front and try to sell it,” she recalled. “It’s been a family affair for a long, long time.”
Where the employees are considered family as well, a fact apparent in their tenure working at Garrett’s. Robert Gonzales has worked there for 35 years, Maria Rodiquez has been an employee for 32 years, Christina Rodriquez-Vales has been a staffer for 22 years, Sandra Meza-Ashley has been on the job for 10 years, Matt Perez for six years and Victoria Allen Menley has been there for five years.
In addition to the plethora of historical goods lining its shelves, the store has made cinematic history itself. Scenes from Prison Break, a popular movie and series, were filmed there. Garrett remembers the production renting out his entire shop to film, buying items for props and “a bunch of stuff ” for crew members personally.
Garrett said has no plans to retire and celebrated his 77th birthday on Aug. 12.
“At one time I said I was going to retire at 100 and I’m getting close,” he chuckled. “I can retire anytime, but I have no plans for that.”
When he’s not at the store, you’ll find Garrett tending to his garden at home. He said he loves to be outside putting his green thumb to good use caring for his beloved plants.
Garrett’s Jewelry & Loan is located at 301 N. Oak Ave in Mineral Wells, Texas. For more information call (940) 325-2207 or (800) LUV-PAWN.