A Mother and Son's Offers a Variety of Goodies

It seems that the Village has recently exploded with a number of new businesses this past year.

Having opened in June, A Mother and Son's Gifts and Treasures fits into this wave of new shops. Owner Beth Griswold, a Stone Mountain resident since 1972, has a variety of merchandise in her store, from canvas paintings by local artists to Stone Mountain souvenirs, many of which she designs herself. She also specializes in laser engraving and customized framing. 

In this week's Meet the Owner, Griswold sits down with Patch and talks about how she got started in the custom framing business, what she was doing before the Stone Mountain shop and how her kids assist with the business. 

Patch: Is this the first business that you've opened?

Beth Griswold: No, my father and I started at Fort McPherson, right on the army post, almost 11 years ago. And because the fort is closing and we live close to the Stone Mountain area, we decided to open up out here. My father retired, and I've decided to open A Mother and Son's in Stone Mountain. 

Patch: Was your previous shop similar to this?

Griswold: No, it was mostly custom framing, a little bit of engraving, not so many gifts. I do a lot of souvenirs and a lot of keepsakes, specifically for the Stone Mountain area. I don't have the same army presence as I had in Fort McPherson, but still custom framing. 

Patch: What inspired you get into the gift aspect of the business?

Griswold: I enjoy being creative, like with the laser engraving. Some of the laser engraved products that I have are the peach that are engraved with "Stone Mountain, Georgia" [engraved on it]. It gives me an outlet for my creative part of me. 

Patch: I'm not too familiar with laser engraving. How exactly does it work?

Griswold: The laser engraving is done on our computerized laser engraver. The computerized mat cutter that I have allows me to cut out special shapes in the different mats. I can do multiple openings and it helps with production. A lot of things are done on the computer first, and then cut out quickly. 

Patch: What would you say are some of your specialties besides custom framing?

Griswold: I try not to be limited to one or two things. I try to offer whatever I can. The most important thing to me is when a customer walks in, that they leave happy with whatever they've got. I enjoy every aspect of the business from the custom framing to the laser engraving. Whatever I can offer them that pleases them, I know that sounds kind of corny, as long as they leave with a smile, that's good. 

Patch: Your website looks great, especially since you have a gift registry setup option. There's also a Stone Mountain Village throw blanket available for purchase online and at your shop. Did you design that?

Griswold: I did. We also have plates and mugs that have all the different pieces of Stone Mountain, which were designed by us. We also have a topographical map of Stone Mountain, and these [pointing to the map] are coasters. [It] was designed by National Geographic. A portion of these proceeds goes to National Georgraphic.

Patch: I notice you have a lot of artwork for sale. Is it all by the same artist?

Griswold: No, I'll display in and out a couple of different artists that I have. This (pointing to a few pieces of colorful folk art) is by Dede Spitzer, this is her corner, I guess. There's another lady named Rita Lawrence who has [work here, too]. The other items I have, I just come across and framed. The diploma is for example, but the flowers, I've just kind of come across, and then two pieces of canvas [in the shop] are for a customer, but he's in Afghanistan, so he said I can hang those up for now. I also have some art from Loid Curtist that is on display as well. 

Patch: Are they usually by local artists?

Griswold: Yes. Rita and Dede are both local Stone Mountain artists. I will have a gentleman here later this month who's a retired army man. He teaches ROTC at one of the high schools, and he'll be here, doing some art. 

Patch: I understand that your kids help you out, too. 

Griswold: Occasionally. I have four boys, and so I got the inspiration for A Mother and Son's because two of my older boys have been helping me before, and occasionally they'll come in and out. I have 10-year-old twins, they're not quite at that age yet where they can help. 

Patch: What exactly do they help you out with? Is it mostly just framing or designing?

Griswold: My oldest one can help me with design. He's very talented with graphics and things like that, so he helps me with design. My middle child, 19, he will help me with framing, putting things together. 

Patch: And how's the Village been treating you so far?

Griswold: I love the Village. All of the merchants down here are very open, very friendly to you, very supportive. I know the city itself, as well as the Main Street Membership Board, has been very welcoming. Very encouraging, too, it's not like... I've had some friends who had been in another small city that you walk in, and it's all, "Oh, you're competition, we can't support you." Everybody here is just so open.

Patch: What would you say most cusotmers come in here for?

Griswold: Right now, it's been kind of 50/50. Framing, and they're looking for a quick gift that they can give. 

Patch: Plus, I imagine your prices are better than Stone Mountain Park. 

Griswold: I try to be. I know the souvenir prices are much better than Stone Mountain [Park]. The framing, I'm pretty average in comparison to a box store. I've been professionally trained as a custom framer, whereas someone at a box store is just a $7-an-hour employee. I care about the artwork when it comes in, and it has my name on the back of it.

Patch: With the mugs, coasters and plates, do you put the designs on there yourself?

Griswold: No, I ordered those. I sent all the artwork to the people that print and make that for me. 

Patch: Do you have any more designs right now that you hope to get the ball rolling on?

Griswold: Not yet. Right now, I'm working on magnets for Oktoberfest that's happening. These magnets are from the Butterfly House (pointing to a rectangular wooden magnet with the Butterfly House logo on them), and of course, I'm going to sell these [Georgia state-shaped wooden magnets] for Stone Mountain. These are all done on the laser engraver and we add the magnet to the back. I'm trying to get ready for Oktoberfest. 

Patch: What future lies ahead for A Mother and Son's?

Griswold: You know, I'm hoping to be here for a very long time. I'm hoping that we just continue to offer the quality framing and offer the gifts and things that people are looking for. I hope to be known as the Stone Mountain framer, so that when people say, "Do you have any framing in Stone Mountain?" "Oh, go see A Mother and Son's." That's what I'm hoping.