From Laredo and Paris to Loop 1604
The Rustic Gallery has been family-owned since 1998.
Ricky Vazquez grew up in Laredo, Texas, where people and goods cross the border every day. Elisabeth was born and raised in Paris, France, and grew up loving travel.
Ricky had a background in international trade. Elisabeth had experience in travel. In 1996, while they were living in Laredo, Elisabeth proposed bringing handcrafted furniture from Mexico to the American market.
For two years they traveled through Mexico, visiting furniture makers and artisans in their workshops. Many of the techniques they saw had been passed down through generations.
In 1998 they started The Rustic Gallery as a wholesale business, working from a small warehouse and selling to the American market. A year later, with growing interest from the public, they opened their first retail showroom in San Antonio.
Today The Rustic Gallery is still family-owned, with one-of-a-kind furniture, art and objects from around the world in its showroom on Loop 1604.
How the gallery grew
1996: The idea
While living in Laredo, Elisabeth proposed bringing handcrafted furniture from Mexico to the American market. The idea became two years of travel to find furniture makers.
1998: The beginning
Ricky and Elisabeth established The Rustic Gallery as a wholesale business, working from a small warehouse.
1999: The first showroom
Interest from the public led to their first retail showroom in San Antonio.
2003: Room to grow
The business moved to a larger location, with room for more furniture and art.
2011: Loop 1604
The Rustic Gallery moved to its current showroom on Loop 1604 in San Antonio.
