The year was 2011 and two sisters, Therese (LaLonde) Turnbaugh and Jeannene (LaLonde) Clark, were residing in Fontana while working full time, running their own businesses. The two would meet up regularly for lunch in nearby Walworth and, one day, noticed a building at 325 Kenosha Street (formerly a Pontiac Dealership) with a “for rent” sign in the window. Curiously, the sisters began to share ideas of opening a shop together. One thing led to another, and the dream turned into reality when they signed a temporary short-term lease with the landlord.
In November of 2011 on Thanksgiving weekend, Angelus Home & Garden opened in a tiny 600 square foot room selling used furniture that was either found, bought, or donated which, in turn, the sisters immediately began restoring and/or painting for resale. As the saying goes, another person’s trash turned out to be Therese and Jeannene’s treasures.
“Our store isn’t about putting ‘matchy matchy’ rooms together. It’s about combining comfort, balance, style, accents, textures, and whimsy that reflect our inner joy. Your home shouldn’t just look good, it should really feel good.” —Therese Turnbaugh
Painting and repurposing used furniture led to an opportunity to contract with the inventor of Chalk Paint®, Annie Sloan. “Although nervous about the investment, we both knew we had to have that paint, as it was the best thing we ever used,” said Jeannene. With this investment, the business grew quickly and expanded beyond painted and repurposed furniture. The need for more square footage grew as well. As tenants moved out, they continued to accumulate more of the space and eventually decided to purchase the entire 15,000 square foot building in December of 2017.
Since then, Angelus has grown into one of the largest retailers of home furnishings and décor in the Geneva Lakes area. Their merchandise has expanded to include new furniture alongside handcrafted and vintage pieces. The store has set itself apart with an artistic approach to merchandising that strikes a balance between a fun adventure and a relaxing vacation. Inside, there is a gallery, women’s boutique, gifts, and much more. This November, Angelus will be celebrating 13 successful years in business.
The sisters feel extremely blessed to have been able to use their talents and creativity building this business and are grateful for their amazing teammates, customers, and families who have supported them throughout the years. “It’s far more than we could have ever wished for,” say Therese and Jeannene.
Stop in and visit Therese & Jeannene at Angelus Home & Garden to see all they have to offer for your home.
angelushome.com | 414.815.6638325 Kenosha Street | Walworth, WI 53184
