For 20 years The Ole Moon has graced Lower Greenville, the jewel in the crown of specialty shops and funky boutiques lining the avenue. Browsers there include couples coming to or leaving St. Martin’s bistro next door, SMU students out on the town, husbands like mine who come in and grab a piece of one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry for a last-minute anniversary gift, and “M” Street residents who come in regularly to inspect the ever-changing inventory of jewelry and art objects.
Founding partner Wayne Lovell opened the business as a means of having more time to spend with his young daughter Angela. “This particular business was chosen because I wanted to become more deeply involved in a variety of things that provided both sensory and intellectual stimulation,” he says. The Lower Greenville location was chosen in a single evening “when I was driving through the neighborhood on my way to hear Hal Baker and the Gloom Chasers at the Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill. The mature trees, the diverse architectural styles, the awakening of the commercial centers and the obvious gentrification process just beginning in the late Õ70s were the main attractions.”
The business opened as “The Ole Moon and Other Tales, Pre-Read Books and Assorted Friends.” The focus originally was on the arts and literature with blues, jazz and vintage rock’n’roll thrown in. When Rudi Riffkind came into the partnership the focus shifted more to arts and crafts. A gallery director before joining Wayne in The Ole Moon, Rifkind has greatly influenced the direction of the store.
WAYNE’S WORDS
My favorite quote is: If you can’t lead or follow, get the hell out of the way
I would love to have five minutes alone with: Leonardo da Vinci
My definition of “success” is: Having time to indulge one’s passions
My perfect day alone would include: A round of golf or a good book Ð maybe both
The best advice I ever received was: Love yourself
Life is too short to: Spend it on a freeway
I’m not afraid to: Start over
I don’t believe in: Limits
I always procrastinate about: Registering for a pottery class
RUDI’S RULES
If I could change one thing about myself I would: Subdue my need to be neat and tidy in my environment
I’ve never understood why everyone was so crazy about: Body piercing
Most people don’t know I: Love to play the slot machines
If I won the lottery I would: Fish all over the world
My advice to anyone trying to start a business is: Work hard and visualize success
By the end of the year I hope to have: Conquered our new computer system
I don’t believe in: Television
WAYNE AND RUDI’S WORDS OF WISDOM:
Our greatest asset is: The quality people who surround us
People we admire are: Creative
I wish President Clinton would: Adopt Jimmy Carter’s code of ethics
