Friday, June 25 from 4-7pm, Caravati’s Architectural Salvage will celebrate its Grand Opening in downtown Ashland.
201 England Street is the new location of Caravati’s Architectural Salvage and the historic home of Loving Ford dealership, first built in 1921.
The local family business is known across our region for unique and lovingly restored architectural pieces. The new location will offer customers an expanded showroom and restoration services.
Owners Ben, Jimmy, and Elaine Kastelberg are Hanover County residents and the relocation to Ashland is a move home, in many ways.
“I like the small town feel of Ashland,” says Ben. “It’s a nice historic town and the atmosphere jives with what we do here at Caravati’s.”
“When we talk to people about the relocation, it’s great to be able to tell them Ashland is a destination spot to come shop, eat and sightsee.”
Ben, Elaine, and Jimmy Kastelberg with the full Caravati’s Architectural Salvage team.
Caravati’s provides high-quality antique and vintage architectural pieces salvaged from historic homes, including hardware, woodwork, wrought iron, brick, lighting, and more. “My grandfather was known to salvage everything but the plaster dust. That was the one thing he couldn’t save,” says Jimmy about the business’s founder, Louis Caravati.
The Caravati’s showroom includes historic photographs of the family business.
“We were fortunate grandchildren, my grandfather had plenty of work for everybody. I was one who worked there every summer with him, and I enjoyed it. He had us cleaning brick. We pulled glass out of old windows. He had us stripping paint off of old doors and windows and shutters and mantles; anything that had paint on it.”
By the time Jimmy took on the business in 1983, Caravati’s had grown to fill warehouses in south Richmond. He explains, “the biggest challenge we’ve faced is changing times. We've been through a couple of recessionary periods, back in my grandfather’s time, in the eighties, and with COVID. We’ve had to make adjustments. As the business owner, you have to sacrifice and to adapt. With experience and being really attuned to our market, we’ve overcome some tough times.”
Stained glass and wrought iron displayed in the Caravati’s showroom.
Relocating to Ashland will help Caravati’s continue the tradition. Jimmy and Elaine proudly report that Ben will soon be taking on the leadership role. And it was Ben who envisioned the move to Ashland and adapting during changing times.
Ben explains, “moving to Ashland allows us to delve further into the art of what we do. We can specialize in restoration services and provide installation as well. This location will help us serve our customers and make sure our inventory is fully customized to their needs.” The Ashland showroom is surrounded by workshops for each trade. Caravati’s craftsmen specialize in antique lighting, replication, woodworking and repair, historic glass cutting, and hardware fitting.
Historic doors and fixtures in the Caravati’s showroom.
Even the new location is an historic restoration success story. The Loving Ford Building has graced Ashland’s main street for 100 years. The building is flanked by the iconic Ashland Theatre and just one block from the railroad tracks in the center of town. Following the owners’ renovation, Caravati’s business fits perfectly in the historic space. Today, there are architectural pieces showcased in the picture windows and craftsmen in each garage bay.
Everyone is invited to join Caravati’s Architectural Salvage Grand Opening Celebration on Friday from 4-7pm at 201 England Street, Ashland VA 23005.
Ashland Fourth Fridays will be going on simultaneously. Downtown Ashland is sure to be an exciting destination for customers new and old.