New York Designer Restores Downtown Springdale Building

Springdale native Daniel Grady Faires, who became a fan favorite in season five of HGTV’s reality show “Design Star,” is on a mission to spur revitalization of the city’s downtown.

Now a resident of New York, Faires bought the 900-SF building at 111 E. Emma St., and stripped away two dropped ceilings, carpet, vinyl tile and other layers added since the commercial structure was built around 1935.

Faires said his intention was to give the building the open, industrial look popular in New York.

An antique store called Warehouse 54 is set to open Sept. 8 in the renovated space. The business is owned by Faires’ brother Tim Faires and John Musser, who helped with the renovation.

The building will be the first storefront space for the antique business, which was previously run by appointment only from a nearby industrial warehouse. It will also feature exhibits of work by local artists and photographers.

Daniel Faires said in a news release that he hopes other people will realize the potential of the buildings currently vacant on Emma Street.

“The buildings downtown have so much character and charm,” he said in the release, “plus, when you do the math, the cost of buying and renovating a space in downtown Springdale is much more affordable than purchasing or building anywhere else in Northwest Arkansas.”

On a recent visit to help finish out the space, Faires said that with construction of the Razorback Greenway through downtown and a fountain that will uncover a natural spring, Springdale is poised to become a cultural destination in Northwest Arkansas.

Faires hosts a show on HGTV.com called “DanMade,” in which he shows viewers how to create furniture and other projects from reclaimed materials. He also owns his own interior design and contract company.