Duluth Business Brings Couple New Careers, Success

Jeanne and Larry Hall could no longer stand by with their prime real estate shuttered, waiting for the ideal occupant to open up shop.

The Halls, who live in Cardinal Lakes Estates in Duluth, own 2,800 square feet of storefront at 3109 Main Street in downtown Duluth and other property in the city. This particular space was home to a furniture and floral business operated by Jeanne's parents, the Bennetts.

After making nearly two years of insurance and tax payments on the vacant retail space, the Halls took it over and opened This, That & Other Market Place with the motto: “Here to help you find what you want.”

“Instead of just leaving it here vacant, we decided to put stuff in it ourselves,” Jeanne said.

The market is filled front to back with an eclectic mix of furniture, home décor, jewelry, and clothing. The merchandise is obtained from estate sales and auctions that the Halls happily attend regularly.

And the store is meeting the needs of individuals and dealers alike. There is a man from Alabama who comes to buy all of the available mirrors. A group  makes purchases to re-sell in the Chamblee/Doraville and Buford areas.

“They’re very happy because we’ve got the right prices,” Larry said. “We’ve got our stuff low enough where people can buy things. We’re not gouging.”

This, That & Other is also an ideal spot for sharing the bounty from Larry’s two-acre garden planted next to Jeanne's family homeplace off Davenport Road in Duluth. The need to sell tomatoes, watermelons, squash, okra, cucumbers, and peppers arose years ago when Larry first brought home seven five-gallon buckets of okra – more than the Halls could preserve or give away.

“It just got to be too much for me, so I started making signs and putting them all over the place,” Jeanne said.

The produce and rental properties have combined to keep the Halls self-employed since 1977. The downtown store is a relatively new venture brought on by the tough economic reality facing nearly every community.  

Jeanne said that rough financial times in the past still saw families and individuals seeking their residential rentals. But that has not been the case in this downturn.

“When it gets to where your rentals aren’t renting, you know it is bad,” she said. “The only thing we can figure is that people are moving back in with their families. We can tell a difference in the economy with us having so few renters.”

Even with the challenges of serving as retail proprietors, the Halls are encouraging others to take a chance on auctions and sales as they have done. “You can always try it and see,” Larry said.

For now This, That & Other Market Place is open Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. The Halls will likely extend their hours once the new Pure Taqueria restaurant opens across the street in October. This, That & Other is among nine new businesses that have opened recently on Main Street in Duluth.