store no. 9, a home décor and design services store that opened in 2019 in a renovated home on Fourth Avenue North. (Martin Cassidy/Community Impact Journal)
When Jill Johnson opened Storehouse no. 9 Three years ago, she said it was a step toward fulfilling a lifelong passion for exploring interior design and home décor.
“I carried big books on design,” Johnson recalled of her youth in Pennsylvania. “I’ve always been interested in owning a shop even as a little girl, and combining that with design and a love of beauty seemed like a good combination.”
store no. 9, an indoor home store on Franklin’s Fourth Avenue, sells furniture, art, and fixtures along with pillows, candles, towels, and a smaller variety of accessories. However, Johnson said the bulk of the work now is providing design services.
Johnson described her approach to interior design and decor as “classic meets modern,” a definition that favors simple lines and minimal ornament such as carved wood in furniture or other design elements.
“The only thing the store has in common with my design is a cleaner look and not a lot of elaborate detailing or embellishment and the use of simple fonts,” sh•mail said•.
Johnson, a mother of four, said she got serious about the store as her kids grew up. She said she also believes there are clients who share her taste.
“Things are burning really well here,” Johnson said. “People all say one thing they want is that clean, cleaner look.”
She said Johnson’s husband, Sam, handles some of the company’s finances, and their daughter Mary is the store manager.
“For all families, it won’t work, but we agree,” Johnson said.
While some store items like bed sets and living rooms are pricey, Johnson said it’s important to stock up on affordable items and decor, often for less than $20 apiece.
“I don’t want everything to be this high,” she said. “I wanted to include things that start from a few dollars and go up to thousands of dollars.”
Johnson said the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the store to rely on online selling to survive.
But as homeowners spend more time at home, Johnson’s design expertise is in high demand as people decide to invest in beautifying their surroundings, she said.
“I think a lot of people in the house have decided to take on eye problems that have been bothering them for some time,” she said.
Later this month, the company will open an extension at 252 5th Ave. N., to sell pool, patio, and outdoor leisure furniture, Johnson said.
The store’s name was dually inspired by Deuteronomy 28:12, a Bible verse referring to God’s reward for workers, and the number nine which indicates how big her family grew up.
“It’s a verse that makes sense to me because it talks about God opening the storehouse of heaven,” Johnson said. “It made sense to me because I was making a big leap opening the store.”
Store No. 9
320 4th Ave. N., Franklin
615-484-8922
www.storehouseno9.com
Opening hours: Monday to Friday. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday. 10 AM – 1 PM, closed on Sundays