give him some wood and tools , and he will make it exactly as it is in the photo .” Kevin says the tables are mainly made in pine and alder , though any type of wood can be sourced , and no nails or screws are used . The company also builds vanities , kitchen islands , and coffee and sofa tables , and imports tables , chairs and bedroom sets .
In the spring of 1972 , Terry and Christine were heading from Southern California to Canada to buy 240 acres of land and stopped along the way to visit relatives in Pioneer in Amador County . When word came in April that there was too much snow in Canada , and they would need to wait until late May to go , the O ’ Neills decided to pass on the purchase and settle in Amador County , where they opened an antique store in a 20-foot shipping container on Water Street in downtown Jackson .
The couple still owns the family business and remains actively involved : Terry ’ s passion is woodworking , and he oversees the construction of the custom tables ; Christine does the bookkeeping and runs the showroom in Sutter Creek ; and son-in-law Cruz Luevano works in the workshop . Daughter Kelly Luevano used to work in the warehouse but is now a teacher at Sutter Creek Elementary and is no longer involved in the business . In all , the company has 14 employees , including four woodworkers who have been with the O ’ Neills for more than 25 years .
Kevin says the company ’ s location has been perfect . “ Our customers are not necessarily from around the Jackson area ,” he says . “ It would be hard to sustain a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on a population of 39,000 ( in Amador County ). … We are lucky … that customers from ( across the region ) can all reach us in 1-2 hours . … ( But ) you need something to entice the customers to take a day out of their lives and drive up to us . We are lucky because Amador County is an amazing place to visit .” One big reason to visit , he says , is the abundance of wineries in the county and the many other unique shops in Sutter Creek and Jackson .
Water Street Antiques & Interiors has done well during the coronavirus pandemic because , Kevin says , people are staying at home more and want to add furniture and other decorations to their homes . But the O ’ Neills have been unable to travel as they have in the past , to countries such as India and Vietnam , to purchase furniture . “ We buy everything in person so that we know exactly what type of product we are getting ,” Kevin says , “ because photos can be so hard with furniture . We ’ ll see what the next couple of months holds as far as getting more items .”
Tom Couzens is executive editor of Comstock ’ s . On Twitter @ tomcouzens .
“ Our customers are not necessarily from around the Jackson area . It would be hard to sustain a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on a population of 39,000 ( in Amador County ). … We are lucky … that customers from ( across the region ) can all reach us in 1-2 hours .”
Kevin O ' Neill , vice president of sales and marketing , Water Street Antiques & Interiors
Kevin O ' Neill ( left ) is vice president of sales and marketing for Water Street Antiques & Interiors , a company opened by his father , Terry ( right ), and mother , Christine , in 1972 .
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