By Emily Williams
Though The Dandé Lion has changed locations and hands over the years, the style of its founding owner has stood the test of time.
For its 50th anniversary, the shop will celebrate from Sept. 20 through Sept. 28, offering drawings for items, such as their selection of Byers’ Choice carolers.
The store was relocated to 2416 Canterbury Road in Mountain Brook Village last year but remains a go-to spot to find classic furnishings, home accessories and unique gifts for any occasion or wedding registry.
In 1969, Joan Conzelman Long opened the doors of The Dandé Lion in English Village and began building her legacy in the Mountain Brook community.
The store moved to Culver Road in Mountain Brook Village three years after opening, where it remained for the next 45 years.
During that time, Joan’s daughter Joann Conzelman Long began working with her mother and took ownership of the store when Joan passed away.
“When I was in the Culver Road store, there were times when I felt like my mother would walk in at any moment,” Joann said.
Years ago, when Joann moved back to her hometown of Mountain Brook from Atlanta, she intended to continue her career as a teacher. She quickly found that she was overqualified for many of the positions available in the area.
Luckily, it was always her intention to help out with her mother’s store.
“Mother and I worked very well together,” Joann said, partly because she was an expert when it came to her mother’s sense of style.
It was something that came naturally to her. At the age of 4, Joann’s grandmother asked her to help pick out a dress for her mother’s birthday.
“My grandmother and mother had very different styles,” she said. “But I was always able to pick out exactly what my mother liked. …
“When we gave it to mother, I was right on the nose,” Joann said.
At times, she was almost too on the nose. One Christmas, Joann was extremely excited to present her mother with a coral cowl neck sweater, carefully chosen with no expense spared.
“Then Mother walked into the room and she was wearing that exact sweater,” Joann said, adding that her mother had even purchased it at a discounted price.
Joann describes her mother’s – and her own – style as classic and timeless with the ability to adapt to new trends. The style can be seen translated throughout The Dandé Lion.
Style in the Home
There is a little bit of everything when it comes to home decor, but each piece is intentionally chosen.
While there are antique furnishings, there are pops of contemporary, such as acrylic dining chairs.
Joann prides the store on its selection of lamps, featuring classic styles as well as modern.
There are shelves upon shelves filled with picture frames in various colors and materials, as well as bookends, vases, candlesticks and anything else needed to put the finishing decorative touches on a home.
The store also stocks a bit of seasonal decor, including Byers’ Choice Figurines outfitted for upcoming holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Joann recalls the first time Byers’ Choice was represented at market in Atlanta, in the early 1980s.
“I remember walking over to the booth and the sales rep asked me what I thought of them,” she said. “And I said, ‘I’m not sure.’ And she said, ‘That is exactly what your mother said.’”
Joann’s mother decided that the store needed to carry them, and they have been sold at The Dandé Lion ever since.
In addition to decor, Joann stocks items that she has found to be of great use. Buyers currently are raving about the Reverse Close Umbrellas, offered in a variety of colors and patterns, as well as The Silver Butler, an anti-tarnish silver polishing cloth.
Joann noted that service is what has kept the store alive despite the changing retail market over the last 50 years. It is also what she loves most about owning her store.
“I love it when we help a customer find the perfect gift or item for their home, and they come back in to tell us how much they have enjoyed it,” she said. “That’s the best feeling.
“We welcome everyone to come by the new store as we celebrate our 50th anniversary.”
