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Sault Ste. Marie, MI, August 12th 2013: After several months of design and renovation, the newest
retail store in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is scheduled to open on Thursday. Located
in the Park Place City Center building (formerly known as the Masonic building) at 416 Ashmun
Street, “Twenty Below Gallery & Gifts” will be a wonderful addition to an already busy block of
retailers.
Twenty Below Gallery & Gifts will focus on framed art as well as an electic mix of candles, metal
wall sculpture, carved wooden boxes, and a variety of unique furniture pieces. The store will
continually reflect a fresh and playful product mix offered in a relaxed and welcoming
atmosphere.
Rich and Judy Hill are opening the store after running a successful furniture business at the Soo
Plaza called “Whitefish Bay Furniture.” The couple closed that store in 2006 in order to explore
other pursuits. Judy began substitute teaching for Sault Area Schools, while Rich began writing
books, including Lake Effect: A Deckhand’s Journey on the Great Lakes Freighters and his latest
work: Hitchhiking After Dark: Offbeat Stories from a Small Town.
Both Rich and Judy have a strong background in the arts. Judy was a drama major in college,
and Rich was an art and design major. Because of their background, the Hills have been
looking forward to opening a boutique art gallery and gift store for years. Rich is also an artisan
woodworker and furniture builder, and he will be offering his own customized line of wood
framed prints. Oak frames are splined at the corners with black walnut, and the prints are
mounted with a textured surface and no need for glass. This process allows for UV resistance
and avoids the glare of a reflective surface.
Be sure to visit “Twenty Below Gallery & Gifts,” Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan’s newest retail store.
The doors open on Thursday, August 15th, and store hours will be from 10:00am to 5:30pm
Monday through Saturday. The store is located at 416 Ashmun Street across from Arfstrom’s
Medical Supplies and Thinking of U.