Gillyweeds

I am a Florida native that is currently landlocked in Newnan, Ga. (5 hours from the nearest ocean). In addition to my Floridian roots, I've also lived near the beaches of Antigua, Philippines, and Jamaica thanks to my Father who was an international Civil Engineer. I became a Francophile after meeting and marrying my French husband, Albert. We lived for 2 years in the South of France... true bliss!! With Gillyweed, I have combined my two passions- French & Island style. Gillyweed started in 2012 in a 900sq foot store, in 2018 we moved to our current location which is 2,000sq feet. Favorite Hobbies would be traveling, watching scary movies, and being with friends & family. As a side hustle, I am an abstract painter and sell my artwork at Gillyweeds and at the Savannah Gallery of Art.

Gillyweeds, owned by Valerie Dumas, is the French and Island style boutique that has been calling 21 West Court Square its home since 2018. Its iconic seahorse logo and white and blue facade reflects the boutique’s refreshing style. The building itself has had a rich history long before Dumas moved her business in to 21 W Court Square. The first documentation of the building was in 1885, with the business being a tailor shop. From 1895-1986, the building housed Barnett St. John Men’s Clothing Store. Owned by Roscoe Moody, the business was coined “one of Newnan’s good clothing stores” and had the motto of “Your Appearance is our Business.” The men’s clothing store was bought by the store clerk Lewis Beers in the 1980s, who had the lifelong dream of owning the business. The building was later bought by Ellis Mansour II in 1986, where he expanded his shop into the space. Ellis Mansour II was the grandson of Ellis Mansour, who first opened a dry goods business downtown in 1911. His sons and grandsons continued expanding his businesses around the square after his death in 1946. In 1992, the building became Knight Printing Company: a printing, copying, and digital imaging store that had been at 21 W Court Square for over 25. Years. Then, in 2018, the building transformed into Gillyweeds.

Historical information and photos courtesy of the Newnan-Coweta History Center