Part of St. Augustine’s richness lies in its versatility. Our city is home to bibliophiles, artists, history buffs, sports enthusiasts, and those with a flair for luxury. Something special happens when a local business adapts alongside the continuously-changing community that it serves. The Vault & Co.– St. Augustine’s preeminent luxury boutique, does just that. Since opening their doors in 2020, they have continued to expand operations, refine their niche, and establish trust. Over the summer, their showroom doubled in size, and preparations are underway for them to occupy an adjacent suite.
Before The Vault & Co. made its debut, shopping for renowned luxury brands often involved treks to Jacksonville’s Southside. Speaking to the convenience of a local luxury boutique, owner Bryan Ventre says, “you can stop in here first, and you might see the bag that you want before you have to drive all the way to Jacksonville and go to 15 different stores because we have Louis [Vuitton], Gucci, Chanel.”
Bryan’s wife, Margie, was at the helm of the shop’s recent redesign – which captures the brand’s laid back luxury. “There’s a friendly staff, but at the same time, we’re not super corporate, we don’t have company uniforms. We’re not all dressed in black wearing name tags. We play whatever music we feel like playing,” explains Bryan. It’s true – the vibrant, symmetrical layout immediately catches the eye upon entry. The bright facades are colored with linear rows of designer bags that guide the eye through a 360 degree view of the showroom. Meanwhile, tracks by the likes of Enya subtly sauntering in the background remind you that you’re in a relaxed space where the faces behind the business personally greet you. Odds are, you will encounter Bryan during a visit to The Vault & Co. “You’ll drive by and see my car here at 1am, 2am, many, many nights. I get so excited.” His enthusiasm is palpable as he shares his latest finds. “I came across an autographed Tom Brady, I picked up an autographed Eli Manning, these are names that everybody knows, but what about the 9,000 other cards that you have?” There is no shortage of trading cards for sports devotees to peruse. That speaks to our athletically driven community of JV, Varsity, and Division 1 athletes.
Bryan’s passion for unearthing overlooked treasures started with his dad, Guy, who you might know as YouTube’s “The Coin Guy.” Bryan remembers attending coin shows with his dad as a kid. Guy’s channel has over 250,000 views, chronicling visits to The Vault & Co., the FUN (Florida United Numismatists) Expo, and interviews with his 15 year old grandson, Jack, who recently became an active participant in the business. “Jack was all over the country with me doing coin shows, learning coins, studying coins, and then some,” shares Bryan with a warm smile – reflecting on a summer well spent.
The Ventre family’s boutique holds a handpicked inventory of rare collectibles.
“I’ve curated all these treasures from this community. 95% of what’s in this store came from the people that are in this community.” recalls Bryan This includes luxury purses, jewelry, and literary treasures like The Scottish Chiefs. In a city of art galleries, second hand book stores, and a college with roots in the Gilded Age, it would come as no surprise to see historians and art collectors clamoring for such finds. When it comes to collectible coins, spotting authentic, high value currency poses a challenge without specialized training. Navigating counterfeits, mint marks and manufacturing errors may throw off the untrained eye. Bryan brings 20 years of experience to his craft. He attended the ANA (American Numismatic Association) Seminar in Colorado, which covers coin grading, counterfeit detection, and ancient coins in a highly respected, immersive course.
“Many times clients come in with a pile of stuff that they inherited and tell me, ‘I don’t think anything is real,’ or ‘there’s nothing in there,’ or ‘that’s fake.”’ Bryan continues, “these people walk out the door with thousands of dollars because I find the value, and I find it quick.” Visiting the boutique before heading to the neighborhood thrift shop could change the course of your day. “It happens way more than people think.” Bryan related an instance where a client didn’t realize they had gold French coinage dating back to the 1700s in their possession. So, before scrapping a hidden treasure, they were surprised with a considerable cash offer.
Sifting through nicknacks to unearth authentic value involves a multi-layered approach. Original receipts shed light on which dealer or mint facilitated transactions. Then there is the use of RFID tags, which act as digital barcodes to instantly confirm an item’s existence in a database. Finally, training artificial intelligence with millions of photos of genuine precious metals makes it possible to confirm authenticity.
The Vault & Co. exemplifies family legacy and community credibility. Blending expertise with curated local treasures, it has emerged as St. Augustine’s go-to destination for authenticated luxury of all kinds. “They walk out of the door with thousands of dollars because I find the value, and I find it quick. THE VAULT & CO.
112 N Ponce De Leon Blvd Ste B
(904) 500-2646
www.thevaultand.co
