One of Sewanee’s enduring traditions is to get a guardian angel. When you enter the gates, tap the car roof to let your angel rest. When you leave the gates, tap your car roof to take your angel with you for protection.
Gay Alvarez thought that was such a charming notion that she began to provide fun and unusual angels at her store, the Lemon Fair. In the 1980s, Gay asked Christi Teasley, who was working for her at the time, to come up with some artwork for the Sewanee angel legend. Teasley also asked Rob Keele, a local songwriter, to write about the Sewanee angel legend. “I do not know what would have happened to this store without the angel story,” said Alvarez.
A Sewanee resident since 1964, Gay Alvarez is no stranger to the Village. Alvarez has been in business since 1972, and is the longest running proprietor of a business in Sewanee. Ken Taylor at Taylor’s Mercantile is second.
In 1972, Alvarez and Marilyn Powell opened up a needlework shop on Georgia Avenue, the first site of the Lemon Fair.
“The dean of women at the time, Mary Sue Cushman, said what Sewanee really needed was a needlework shop,” said Alvarez. “Marilyn and I opened up the business with about $500 each. The first Lemon Fair was in a four-room shotgun style house. The needlework supplies filled up one room.”
Trying to decide what to do with the remainder of the rooms, Alvarez filled another room with her own handmade pottery. “With the needlework, pottery and some kitchen supplies, we had a small business. Then we started noticing that people mostly bought the pottery. Whatever the people buy is the direction in which you should go.”
A gift shop with local art began. The Lemon Fair transformed into a gallery and gift shop featuring handmade, unusual and magical gifts, including angels.
In 1975, Alvarez bought the Arthur Long grocery store on University Avenue. Long’s was still a functioning general merchandise store, one of two such stores in Sewanee at that time. “We bought it ‘as is,’ with the inventory still in place on the shelves.”
Throughout the years, Alvarez has incorporated other local artists’ works into her store. A customer can buy locally made pottery from John Ray, Claire Reishman and Merissa Tobler. Sarah Vance sells her angel-shaped goat soaps. Former resident Ben Potter offers tin angels. Long time residents will remember Shipp and Judith Webb’s distinct and popular jewelry being available. While Alvarez no longer makes her own pottery, she is concentrating on making jewelry. Of course, some of the Lemon Fair shelves are still lined with Teasley’s angel artwork adorned on mugs.
The store got its name from the Lemon Fair River in Bridport, Vt. While visiting her sister in Vermont, Alvarez read about the river in the local paper, and thought that would be a great name for a store.
Opinions on the origins of the river’s name differ. Some say the name originated with local Native Americans. Others say it is an English corruption of two French phrases “Limon faire,” to make mud, and “Le mon faire,” let the people be. Another interpretation is the “Lemon Fare,” where the Lemon family fare (traveled) forth. Alvarez just thought it was a great, cutesy name for a store.
After 40 years in business, Alvarez thinks it is time for her to retire and has the business up for sale. She wants to spend more time with her six grandchildren.
“I also do not want my children to have to figure out what to do with this business in the future,” she said.
“My favorite part of owning a business in Sewanee is the people. What I will miss most is meeting the students and their parents. People love coming back to this store. They seem happy that I am still here, and I am happy to see them.”
Part of the Sewanee angel legend in her store says, “Every man, woman and child living now and forever in Sewanee was assigned an angel. It is this angel’s duty to preserve the spirit of Sewanee in one’s mind.”
“I like the idea of angels,” Alvarez said.
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