Published: September 25, 2009 12:25 am      

TIM PRESTON: Gearhead art, fashion, home decor 092709

I added my nose and fingerprints to the glass in front of a collection of motorcycles at the Kyova Tri-State Mall last week after noticing a couple of Triumphs and an old Honda among the recently relocated collection.

Mall Manager Chrissy Dillow assured me I’m not the only guy who has been caught drooling while looking at the display, and she hinted that the folks at Ashland Cycle Center are planning to establish a sort of motorcycle museum there.

I called shop owner Rick Keelin and he said it is true. Keelin had a tough time concealing his personal excitement about the project.

Keelin said the 1967 Triumph which held my attention is one of three bikes from the Ronnie Miller collection, and a BSA 441 Victor is one of two on display from the collection of Bill “Pug” Walker. The display also includes a rare 1980 Honda CBX named “Susie,” as well as several other bikes worthy of attention.

Keelin said the idea is to provide a glimpse at “Gearhead Art” that is “very unique,” and confirmed plans to develop a full-blown motorcycle museum in a space near the mall’s food court.

Shop open

I had actually stopped by the mall to visit the new EJ’s Guitar Shop, and discovered a nice collection of musical gear and a friendly shopkeeper. In addition to the guitars, basses, amps and accessories, they also have a great little collection of vinyl LPs.

I’m no banjo player, but I did enjoy getting a glimpse of two of those instruments built by Lawrence County’s Joe Hardwick. I got to spend a little time with Hardwick in his workshop on Fuller Ridge and know he is a stickler for detail.

Open soon

Pam Johnson reports she is leasing the former Goody’s location at the Ashland Town Center for the upcoming holiday season and will be offering an expanded line of items featured at her existing shop, Pam’s Primitives.

The larger space will allow display of “a lot more selection and variety” of country-style home decor items including curtains, in addition to contemporary gifts and decor products including candles. Fresh Fraser Fir wreaths will be crafted at the family-owned Johnson’s Nursery, she said, along with primitive-style Christmas trees and grapevine trees.

The expansion will be open Oct. 1, Johnson said, and a Christmas Open House is planned for Nov. 6 and 7. For more information, call (606) 327-5572.

Downtown fashions

Lisa VanAllen has opened a new shop Faces of Fashion at 1607 Winchester Ave. in Ashland across from the Highlands Museum.

VanAllen said she is still getting everything established at the shop, and for the time being is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The shop features jewelry, handbags and shoes along with new, vintage and retro clothing. Future plans call for the addition of consignment items, she said.

Coming soon

I actually picked up more information than I could use from Kyova Mall last week, including the Wednesday ribbon-cutting for the new patio at R.J. Kahuna’s and a projected fall opening for Callihan’s American Pub & Grill.

Becky Tengowski has also signed up to open Becca’s Place of Inspiration, which she hopes to have open during the first week of November. The shop will specialize in Christian books, music and soundtracks among other items. The new business number will be (606) 929-5377.

As usual, I promise to pass along more information as I get it.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.