She (Times
gainesvilletimes.com
Friday, June 19, 2020
Shannon Casas Editor in Chief | life@gainesvilletimes.com
Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times
The Braselton Antique Mall, a beloved landmark of the town, is closing down after the death of its owner, Robbie Bettis. Jennifer Scott, the city manager, said her business was the first to
take a chance on revitalizing downtown Braselton.
Braselton Antique Mall closing down
Bettis, who died April 13,
remembered for putting city
on map for antique shoppers
BY KELSEY PODO
kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com
After nearly two decades
of operation, the Braselton
Antique Mall is closing shop
inside the historic Braselton
Brothers Department Store.
The store was owned by
Robbie Bettis who died April
13.
Jennifer Scott, Braselton
town manager, said Bettis’
store was the catalyst for
growing the downtown in the
early 2000s.
“It was one of the first
businesses that moved in
when we started our revital
ization,” she said. “I’m sad
because she was the first
one to take a chance on our
downtown knowing that it
would get better.”
Amy Pinnell, Braselton
Main Street manager and
downtown director, said
Bettis was also instrumental
in starting the antique fes
tivals in town. Between her
store and the events, she said
the business owner helped
put Braselton on the map
for antique shoppers and
dealers.
“If you look at a lot of dif
ferent downtowns, it just
takes that one person to have
a vision and have the guts and
faith to step out and say, ‘I’m
going to do this,’ ” Pinnell said.
“Robbie was that for us.”
Pinnell said many people
in Braselton describe the
antique mall as the anchor
for downtown.
The store will remain open
the next couple of weeks for
people to purchase its inven
tory. Pinnell said Bettis’
husband, Fred, found it too
difficult to carry on the shop
by himself. He runs a lamp
repair business, which is con
nected to the antique store,
and plans to move it to his
residence in Hoschton.
Since Bettis died, Pinnell
said many people have come
to visit the shop and remi
nisce before it closes. For
her, she said the change has
been “very dramatic.”
“Now seeing the store
empty out, you kind of feel
her spirit in there,” she said.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to let
that go.”
The building that houses
the antique store is the fourth
location of the Braselton
Brothers Department Stores
and opened in 1904, Pinnell
said.
As a piece of Braselton
history leaves the town, the
-1
cycle will begin anew. Like
when Bettis set up shop in
2003, Pinnell said another
owner will one day liven the
downtown with new business.
“Robbie’s legacy — we
won’t forget that,” she said.
“Somebody else will come
along, and I think that will
make Robbie happy. I think
that will be the next step.”
The Braselton Antique
Mall is open from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Monday through
Saturday. It is located at
9924 Davis St. in downtown
Braselton.
For closing updates and
hour changes, visit the Down
town Braselton Facebook
page.
‘Robbie s legacy
—we wont forget
that. Somebody
else will come
along, and I think
that will make
Robbie happy I
think that will be
the next step.’
Amy Pinnell
Main Street manager,
downtown director
Margaritaville at Lanier Islands has reopened its waterslides and other attractions for summer 2020.
Courtesy Lanier Islands
Margaritaville, Legacy Lodge reopen at Lanier Islands
BY KELSEY PODO
kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com
The water park and other attractions are
now back for the summer at Lanier Islands.
Margaritaville at Lanier Islands and the
Legacy Lodge reopened to the public June
12, according to a news release.
Water park visitors will see social distanc
ing markings in the lines leading up to rides.
Cruise and restaurant capacities will be kept
at 50% to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Margaritaville staff, guests entering the
park and others who enter the park will have
their temperature checked at the gate. Staff
will frequently sanitize lounge chairs and
restrooms.
Only the first and third floors of the Legacy
Lodge are open, which removes the need for
using the elevator.
“Providing our visitors with an unsur
passed guest experience is at the heart and
soul of everything we do at Lanier Islands,”
Virgil Williams, chairman of the Board for
Islands Management Co. LLC, said in the
press release. “Our team members genuinely
enjoy seeing corporate guests, wedding par
ties, couples, friends and families having a
good time while they’re with us — whether
for the day or overnight.”
Williams stated that the resort and lodge
implemented the health and safety guide
lines based on those from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and local
governments.
While the water park and lodge were
closed during the pandemic, the Legacy
Golf Course, Margaritaville RV Resort and
accommodations at the resort’s villas and
lake houses remained open. In mid-May the
beach, concessions, courtesy docks, marina
and boat rentals, brunch cruises and Land-
Shark Bar & Grill opened, followed by the
resort’s lakeside bars on June 1.
For more information about Margari
taville at Lanier Islands and the Legacy
Lodge’s reopening, call 770-945-8787 or visit
lanierislands.com.
