How a Vintage Store Became a Place for Second Chances

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Living Your Legacy with Rudy Mawer

Episode: How a Vintage Store Became a Place for Second Chances
Date: July 15, 2026
Guests: Host (Ray Gutierrez), Guest (Vinny Cheramonte – Founder of Bluff Park Vintage)

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Ray Gutierrez sits down with Vinny Cheramonte, founder of Bluff Park Vintage, to explore how a simple vintage shop transformed into a sanctuary for community, redemption, and authentic human connection. Vinny shares his journey—from overcoming personal struggles and trauma to building a shop that isn't just about selling clothes, but about giving stories, objects, and people a second chance. The conversation weaves through faith, resilience, the power of being seen, and how entrepreneurship can become a force for healing and belonging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Real Purpose of Bluff Park Vintage

• Not About the Clothes:
  “It’s about people being seen... building relationships with people in the community ... I redeem it and give it new life on purpose. And then someone else can take that, that new life, and put a story on it.” – Vinny, [00:00]
• Unique Customer Experiences:
  • Shoppers are encouraged to try anything, regardless of intent to buy, to make it an “experience” ([05:34]).
  • The shop’s atmosphere evokes a sense of nostalgia and gives visitors a feeling of stepping into another world ([05:34]).

2. The Story Behind the Merchandise

• Every item has a story, continuing through the hands it passes:
  “There’s a dress in there now from 1908, made out of feed sack... got it from Natalie—her great grandmother Bane made it back in 1908, Randolph county in Alabama.” – Vinny, [03:13]
• The staff cherishes and shares the stories attached to items, connecting generations and sparking conversation ([03:13]).

3. Business & Community Challenges

• Unconventional Location:
  The shop is in a secluded shopping plaza, almost hidden—requiring intention to find, but turning discovery into a memorable part of the experience ([06:33]).
• Wide-Ranging Clientele:
  Not just “festival kids,” but everyone—young, old, eclectic, and conventional ([07:51]).

4. Personal Story: Overcoming Adversity

• Vinny opens up about a challenging childhood:
  • Single mother, financial hardship, moving often, sister’s passing ([09:49]).
  • Dropping out of school, periods of violence, substance abuse, jail at 17 ([10:08]).
  • Finding faith and mentorship in jail:
    “Guy wrote me a card… he would drive 45 minutes across town to meet me for lunch, just pour into me weekly for maybe a year.” – Vinny, [11:30]
• Built himself up: GED, college, leadership roles, youth pastor, eventually entrepreneurship ([12:41]).

5. Faith, Authenticity, and Human Conversation

• The shop as a safe space for discussion about life, God, politics, and everything in between—breaking echo chambers and encouraging real talk:
  • “You just yell at each other and no one is ever listening… in my space, I see that as a place for these conversations that happen, for real life to happen.” – Vinny, [00:37] & [14:32]
• Faith remains central, but open to questioning and inclusivity, striving to be “love and light” for everyone—no matter their background or current beliefs ([14:11]).

6. Navigating Darkness and Light

• Discussing recovery and healing:
  • The need to do “shadow work” before embracing light ([17:05]).
  • “There is quite dark to it. And once we understand the darkness, we can kind of hadouk in the light.” – Ray, [17:37]
• Authenticity and vulnerability are vital:
  • “If I’m being real about my life… that allows people to let their guard down.” – Vinny, [19:10]
  • The shop facilitates hugs, deep conversations, and real human energy exchange ([19:55]).

7. Community Initiatives & Dreams

• Holiday loneliness and creating space:
  • Plans to host dinners and events for those alone during holidays, turning the shop into a gathering place ([24:16]).
• Vision for the new shop location:
  • More events, community murals, meetups for local models and photographers ([25:48], [26:46]).
• Overcoming public scrutiny:
  • Facing and surviving character attacks and false accusations; holding onto his core identity ([27:09]).
• The importance of mentorship:
  • “Everyone needs a Paul and a Timothy. You should be pouring into someone else and you should be being poured into.” – Vinny, [28:31]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Redemption:
  “The things that people toss... I redeem it and give it new life right on purpose, and then someone else can take that new life and put a story on it.” – Vinny, [00:00]
• On Authentic Conversation:
  “We don’t have real conversations anymore… in the space, my space, I see that as a place for these conversations that happen, for real life to happen.” – Vinny, [00:37]
• On Darkness & Light:
  “There is no light without the dark... once we understand the darkness, we can hadouk in the light.” – Ray, [17:37]
• On Modern Faith:
  “I just think God is bigger… people get caught up in the details that really don’t matter... There’s a way to be love and light.” – Vinny, [14:11]
  “Authenticity will show through… if I’m being real about my life... that allows people to kind of let their guard down.” – Vinny, [19:10]
• On Resilience:
  “I know who I am… this is what I’m doing. And it’s enough.” – Vinny, [27:18]
• On Mentorship:
  “You should be pouring into someone else and you should be being poured into.” – Vinny, [28:31]
• Lighthearted Banter:
  “Trust me. I like blues and greens personally, but you’re really good.” – Vinny ([09:26]) in response to Ray’s fashion color advice.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 00:37: Vinny’s philosophy: people over products, relationships over retail.
• 03:13 – 04:23: Stories behind vintage pieces; sharing the legacy of objects.
• 06:33 – 07:51: Unique location, clientele diversity, community challenges.
• 09:49 – 13:42: Vinny’s personal backstory: family loss, trauma, jail, spiritual turning point.
• 14:11 – 15:18: Reflections on faith, authenticity, creating a space for real dialogue.
• 17:05 – 19:55: Embracing darkness and light, shadow work, and authenticity.
• 24:16 – 25:46: Holiday outreach plans, using the shop as a hub for connection.
• 27:09 – 28:31: Responding to adversity, the role of community support, importance of mentorship.

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Links & Socials

• Website: bluffparkvintage.com
• Instagram: @bluffparkvintage
• TikTok/Facebook: Bluff Park Vintage

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Closing Thoughts

This episode serves as a testament to the power of authenticity, story-sharing, and radical kindness in both business and personal life. Vinny’s journey proves that second chances—whether for people or for old clothes—can spark transformation, unity, and hope in the most unexpected of places. The Bluff Park Vintage isn’t just a store; it’s where being real, heard, and valued creates a true sense of legacy.

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Transcript

[A]

The Bluff park vintage isn't really about things, right? Like it's about. It's about people being seen. The shop sells vintage clothes. But to me, it's not really about. About this stuff. It's about building relationships with people in the community. Like I kind of see what I'm doing there at Bluff park. Like the things that people toss, right? Like, sure. The unwanted, whatever. Like I redeem it and give it like new life right on purpose. And then someone else can take that, that new life and put a story on it. You know, where has this hat been? Where has it traveled? Right.

[B]

Vinny Cheramonte is a resilient, authentic and community driven entrepreneur, educator and the founder of Blu Vintage, a vintage clothing store built around connection, authenticity and second chances.

[A]

I just feel like the world is like in these echo chambers, right? We don't have real conversations anymore, right? So it's just. You just yell at each other and no one is ever listening. And so like in the space, my space, like I see that as a place for these conversations that happen, like for real life to happen and to have discussions about, about God or faith or even politics. There's just too much good in this world that we're not looking at. And we're looking at a lot of the hate.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[A]

Yeah, we can like redirect that. It spans the globe like a super high cold Internet.

[B]

Elvis Presley. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the. It's not over until I win the Living your legacy podcast for those who live to. To leave a legacy. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago. With the lead is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream. Welcome back to another episode of the Living your legacy podcast for inside success. I am Ray Gutierrez. This gorgeous man that's staring at me in front of this fog machine is Vincent, my cousin, Vinnie Vincente.

[A]

Yeah, both work well. Good job.

[B]

Thanks, Vincent.

[A]

You're welcome.

[B]

Thank you, Reynaldo. Vincent, what are we going to learn about you and your legacy makers episode?

[A]

We are going to learn about, I guess how. Good question.

[B]

Why are you here, sir?

[A]

Why am I here? Well, I mean, had a business there for three years. Vintage clothes. I like to say that the Bluff park vintage isn't really about things. Right. Like it's about. It's about people being seen. So that's. The shop sells vintage clothes, but to me it's not really about. About this stuff. It's about building relationships with people in the community and it's kind of, it's kind of a different little thing. Going on?

[B]

Oh, no, for sure. I can. I can come up with three talking points here.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

One of my favorite pieces that I like to wear is something that Lauren, my partner, got me from a vintage store. And there's a story there now because that came from someone's closet and that closet belonged to someone, and that person has a story. So that energy is handed off and you can almost feel it. You can almost feel like that. That. That story, that lore to this item. How much of that is. Is folks coming in and then products being bought and then that story continues.

[A]

Yes. So that's. That's actually, we. We talk a lot about stories in the shop and how everything does have a story and a purpose. Right. So we see things kind of like, I'm going to get to your point, but, like, I kind of see what I'm doing there at Bluff Park. Like, the things that people toss, right? Like, sure. The unwanted, whatever. Like, I redeem it and give it, like, new life right on purpose. And then someone else can take that. That new life and put a storyline, you know, where has this hat been? Where has it traveled? Right. There's a dress in there now from 1908, made out of feed sack. Like, so it's like 117 years old and. And handmade. I mean, it's still around. It's perfect. And that's the kind of. There's a story there. I got it from. What is it, Natalie? And it was her great grandmother Bane, who made it back in 1908. Randolph county in Alabama. So. So, yeah, I mean, it's. You know, people also walk in the shop, they see something, right? Like a piece, and there's nostalgia there. So it reminds them of growing up or my mom had that or what, you know.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

So. So you'll hear the stories, too, from people just about, like, their story. And then I can take what they tell me about something they've learned or, you know, shared with me about that, tell someone else about it, and then they might be like, hey, I want to carry that story on.

[B]

So now that I've got you sitting in this chair, sir, how does one, like, run a business when it's all, like, heart and thriving and stories? How do you put a markup on a story and go, well, this piece is from, like, the belly of a shark. Like, how much of it is story? How much of it is fluff? Like, how do you price that?

[A]

Well, pricey. Two questions, right? I really try to be honest, like, in everything I do. Like, I probably to a Fault in all honesty, directing. So I like to tell the story that's there. But I do realize there's a little bit of fluff that you can help like on social media or those kinds of things when you're advertising, put a spin on some things. But for the most part, when we're selling the item, we're also selling the story. Right. As far as running a business model around that, it's kind of difficult. Right. Because I mean vintage clothes are in. It's a thing. But we're in Birmingham, Alabama. It's really, actually a really awesome city. It's been on the come up for years for sure. But it's just not a place you would think I'm gonna find a really cool vintage store. I mean it's just not. So people walk in and they're like, am I in? Am I on the east coast right now or am I on the west coast or I'm Miami.

[B]

Like that's awful.

[A]

So it's just like stepping back into time when you come into the store. So we're selling the items, we're selling an experience. I tell people when they come in, if you see something you want to try on, you're like, I'm not gonna buy that. But you wanna know what it feels like for sure? Just, yeah, just go, just have fun. It should be an experience.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So yeah, I mean Mark and I guess I'm still trying to figure out how to, how to build on that. Right, sure. Like on the business model there's a community and there's this, you know, but

[B]

folks are like really buying into like experiences. Like to you, this is, this place seems like so like uncool. But everyone's like, that's the coolest thing ever. Because I was just so used to noise pollution and, and city life and then when I don't have that I can just look at my device or gaming device and go to a different world. This is just.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The, the good old fashioned usa.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

What's it like living, you know, what's it like living in a place where it's like less noise but you're trying to attract the noise. Noise to make a noisy living.

[A]

No, that's actually an excellent point. Like a good question. Because Bluff park is a community within Hoover and Hoover is like a city outside of Birmingham. Right? Sure. So we're not downtown. If we were downtown, we'd probably get more foot traffic. So we have to let people know we're, we're here and we're actually in the Middle of a. Of a. It's a parking plaza or whatever they call it, the Shades Mountain Plaza. Big parking lot, a couple strip malls. And the only way to get there is, like, through a neighborhood, so. So people will follow the GPS there, and then they. They're like, then. Then you just appears in this. Like, you're in this shopping area. That's cool. So when people are coming, they're. They're usually like, I don't even know who the hell I am right now. I'm like, well, you're in the right spot. Yeah, yeah, exactly. But it's wonderful. But. So part of knowing that is against us, right? That we're in this.

[B]

But that's actually kind of cool, though, because when you go to music festivals, you want to go, like, down the river and up the thing, and then finally there's like a light. Oh, that's where we park. And then now you gotta walk another three miles. And by the time you get to your campsite, you're like, man, let's just put everything down. You're like, where the. Are we?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

We don't know. We're too blasted to know or care.

[A]

Festival, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Right.

[B]

So how much is your clientele? Festival kids rolling through town.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Quite literally rolling through town.

[A]

We do get a lot of. Yeah, I mean, yeah, a lot of fest. Yeah, I mean, we have a lot of concerts in Birmingham for sure. Yeah. We get. We get a mixed crowd, though, Honestly. It's not. It's not. You would think, like the vintage vibe in. In your head, you know, it looks a certain way, but we've. I mean, there's a couple that came in in their 70s. She came in looking for. They came in looking for an outfit for him. Like, the suit, nice fitted him. I was like, try on this dress. Right. I think it's just going to look great.

[B]

You put it on him?

[A]

No, no, Nice. Yeah. He was reluctant, but we made some clouds in the air. And then he was like, I'm down.

[B]

Oh, that fog machine again. Yeah, you got to keep carrying that

[A]

with you everywhere you go.

[B]

He's got this fog machine he turns on, so.

[A]

So, yeah, so they both walked out of the shop with new outfits and then they got all these compliments. They sent me pictures and they wanted me to put on their social media. So it's like a mixed. It's just a mixed group that comes, you know, I don't know who my. I knew who my target market, I guess should be.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

But it's it's not. It's just.

[B]

It's just you gotta have a cosplay section where it's just like, bring us your cosplay outfits. Because there's a lot of folks out there that just don't want to spend the fortune to create these cosplay outfits. But they'll spo. They'll. They'll buy, like, used ones or something.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

Like, it's such a niche. And the fact that you have a brick and mortar that's difficult to find just, it amplifies the experience where it's, like, designed not to be discovered. And, like, once you find us, you're there for a reason and you're just funneling the sale. So hopefully they can walk on and buy that jacket that you bought for 50, sell it for a TH000.

[A]

Yeah, that would be great.

[B]

Yeah, you're welcome. Make sure it's all yellow. Yellows in.

[A]

Trust me. I thought it was red.

[B]

No, it's yellow.

[A]

Trust me. I like blues and greens personally, but you're really good.

[B]

No, no, yellow. Trust me, yellows. And I'm going, I'm going. I'm betting the farm on yellow. Anyways, that's a different podcast. A yellow podcast. This is a red one. Anyways, my friend, what are we going to learn about you on your Legacy Makers episode?

[A]

You know, I've been going back and forth on what really to share. Honestly, my life has been up and down.

[B]

Yeah, it's tough to figure out what you want to talk about, right?

[A]

What's pertinent. You know, it matters. What's going to help, obviously, the business, because it's a big part of this. How much of the story matters, you know, it always. All of that. So, I mean, grew up in Atlanta, single mom, dad left when I was four. Had a sister two years older. She died about five years ago.

[B]

I'm sorry, man.

[A]

Yeah. But, you know, growing up was hard. My mom, I remember one time we never had any money. We moved, like every two years because we probably. The lease was bad, you know, whatever. So we're always moving different schools. I was trying to figure out who I am, right? Like becoming this chameleon so I could kind of fit into any space, but still kind of wondering, like, who I am sometimes. So. So, yeah, gosh. My sister tried to commit suicide when she was younger. This guy moved in our house. My mom let him move in. He lied to her about his age. Income tax money came in one. One time, and he disappears. The jewelry's gone. All the money's gone. And I come home from school, and my sister's in her. In her bra and panties, drunk off her ass. And I'm like, in eighth grade, seventh grade, so. And she's maybe, like, it should be in ninth grade, and that guy's gone. And in my mind, I don't remember if it was the same day, but I like, looking back now, like, I think it was the same day. And so I don't know if he, you know, something happened with this guy Doug and her or. Or what, but. And I've tried to talk to her about it before she passed, and, you know, she didn't really want to get into it, so. And I understand that, but. But so, you know, we. And there's been other, like, not tragedy, I guess, whatever trauma, like, in everyone's life more than just those things. But I know I dropped out of school in ninth grade. Got a lot of fights as a kid. Drugs, sold drugs, all those things. And eventually I got arrested and put into jail for about four months. When I was turned 17, in jail. Found God in there, like. Like legit. God's on purpose, right. Knowing something's bigger than me out there. It definitely matters. Got out of jail, started. There's a guy that wrote me a. A card. He was a youth pastor. Sent me a card while I was in jail. I guess my neighbor told him I was there. I'd never met the guy, but. So I get out of jail and I'm Start going to this church. And, like. All right. Anyway, he fed into me, man. Like, he would come. I was painting houses when I got out of jail. I just applied something in the paper and painting houses. And he would drive, like, 45 minutes across town to come meet me for lunch. You know, just pour into me, like, weekly for maybe a year. And then he said I should go to college. I'm like, come on. Dropped out. So anyway, I went and took GED and sat and I didn't study for him, just went. I was gifted growing up. Whatever. Super smart. Sure, sure. So, yeah, got into college, did well there. Undergrad in biblical studies, minor in theology.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Senior class president, vice president, freshman class, senior spiritual life coordinator of the campus my junior year. So just really involved, you know, whatever, doing the thing. And. Yeah, so met my wife there. Moved to Hilton Head. Lived there for about three years as an assistant youth pastor.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And working in the church is hard, I'll say, because you see sides of things you don't. You know, it's just so. But we left. Move back to Atlanta. My wife and I, Alicia and. Well, actually ex wife. We just got divorced in August.

[B]

Oh, God. Yeah.

[A]

It's another story. But it's good. We are friends. It's like she lives down the road. Everything's good. It's just we're different people now and. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. I was like, I never cheated. My wife said, I never want to be a pastor's wife again. I said, I never want to be a pastor.

[B]

That's awesome.

[A]

Yeah. And that's not a knock on any of that. It's just, you know. You know, it's just not. So. Yeah, that's. And then we ended up moving to Birmingham. I was a property manager for a little bit there.

[B]

Do you still practice? Are you still, you know, youth pasturing? Are you still practicing?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

From your shop.

[A]

So. Yeah. As far as peace and, you know, that's. In all honesty, like, I don't know if it's, like a crisis of faith right now. I'm definitely. I just think God is bigger. Like, you know, we're told Jesus, and then we have, you know, these other religions. And I just think people get caught up in. In some of the details that really don't matter.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And. And I think that just divides people. And there's a way to be love and light, which is. There's a story about that, too. Leaving my shop to be love and light and to recognize that there's a higher power out there and that, you know, there's kind of rules to the game, if that makes sense.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[A]

And knowing how to stay in your lane and all that. I don't know. I could go off now, but I just feel like the world is, like, in these echo chambers. Right. We're all just. You get. And you listen to your own people, your own thing, and we don't have real conversations anymore. Right. So it's just. You just yell at each other. It's like. And no one is ever listening. And so, like, in the space, my space, like, I see that as a place for these. These conversations that happen, like, for real life to happen and to have discussions about. About God or faith or even politics, you know, things.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

And it happens there safely. Like, we. I mean, I don't know, man. We just welcome everybody, you know? Like, there's just too much good in this world that we're not looking at. And we're looking at a lot of hate.

[B]

Yes, sir.

[A]

We can, like, redirect that.

[B]

Yeah, man. You were me 20 minutes ago.

[A]

I mean, it Is. It's sad. And I remember I was in my shop maybe a couple months, about over three years ago, and I was walking away, and when you walk out, the parking lot is pitch black. I'm working on that with my new landlord because I just moved, like, a month ago, but it's still in the same area. And I walk out from my shop, and I'm like, lord, what the am I doing here?

[B]

Sounds about right. That's an actual prayer.

[A]

No, it is. Like, I mean, if we can't talk to God, like, I mean, he. I know the Bible well. Right. Like, he knows the number of the hairs on our heads. Like, if he knew our names before we were in our mother's wombs. Like, if he knows all that, he knows what we're thinking anyway. Right. So come on. The last entity or anything you want to be fake to would be God, in my opinion.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So. So. So come on, let's just be real. And so I turn around right after saying, God, what the am I doing here? I turn around. There's a one little street light just over my shop, and it's in this corner of the parking lot there. And. And then my light's on, and I'm like, oh, love and light. I'm like, I can do that, you know? And so just this moment, like,

[B]

no, I completely.

[A]

See, that's why I'm here.

[B]

Yeah, it's. It takes a lot of divine. Not just intervention, but education to understand the signs, the signals a little. The little echo chambers. Not echo chambers, a little reverberations of. Of energy, saying, yo, you're on the path. I hear you. I see you. I'm going to communicate to you. Only you would understand.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then sit on a podcast weeks later and talk to someone that completely understand what you mean. Yeah. How do you communicate to people? How do you preach to folks that aren't open to it or. Let's do this. Because I wanted to bring this up in the last podcast. How does one understand the shadow work? It's very easy. You know, I was saved. I understand that Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior. I understand that. Just even saying that and printing out the podcast into this camera is huge. Even getting a reaction from Jason is huge. That being said, however, you've got to do the shadow work. There is a tit for the tat. There is no light without the dark. I believe it's important that folks understand. Understand that there is quite dark to it. And once we understand the darkness, we can kind of hadouk in the light.

[A]

Okay, I like that. I like that. Mortal Kombat, right? Or Street Fighter. Oh, man.

[B]

But someone's gotta step up and be like, yo, I love what you're doing. And I can hold your hand and be like, praise Jesus. But there's a whole dichotomy of shadow workers over here that go, I need to be saved. Just talk to me. Sith instead of Jedi. Do you believe that's a fair assessment? That there is a dichotomy of Sith Lords are going, I want to be saved. Where do I start?

[A]

I think I understand your question. There's darkness. Yeah. Is there people out there that are wanting to be saved? Is that your question?

[B]

That are okay in the darkness, but understand that the darkness is still being

[A]

saved, that while they're still in the darkness, they're still being saved? Is that what you say?

[B]

Correct. It doesn't require a big old spotlight of, no.

[A]

Okay, but I think I understand.

[B]

Have you seen modern television today? People anymore left behind. That doesn't work anymore. That was very 80s and 90s. I grew up watching Jack Van Impe. I grew up being a Christian. And boy, do I. I'm telling you right now, you turn on TBS and none of that is working. Unless you're like in your 60s.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You're not. You're not believing the old fashioned way. You need a device. You need something that goes, you need to be saved. Because right now this device is saying no. 666.

[A]

Right? Yeah.

[B]

So what is the modern revelation that people need to go and go, this is how you do the thing that used to be so easy to do 20 years ago.

[A]

Oh, okay. So like, it's like, here's the prayer. That's what I'm saying. So that's what the. Two years ago. 20 years ago.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's beyond, man. I think, I honestly think it's just being real. Like your authenticity, Authenticity will. Will show through at least. At least for me. I feel like I can see people. Like, I know if you're being real or not. Maybe not all the time, but, you know, pretty good radar for that. And I think people can sense, like, how genuine you are as well. So if I'm being real about my life, what's going on with it, and like, unafraid to share and just being real, then I. I think that, you know, that allows people to kind of let their guard down a little bit. And so. And then in that space, you know, when you can get people to just. Just have a conversation and listen and. And you know you're listening to them as well, and they know you are, that you're listening. That in that space, you can. You can openly share anything. Really.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Right. And so at that point, it doesn't have to be about religion. It could be whatever. But that, that's. That's the. That's the space. That's the place where you can have those conversations. And then at that point, you know, some of it's natural, I guess. I don't really like having agenda, you know, you just. With the person, you kind of. This, this guy Robert came in the shot one day. He was about to get a divorce. This was like two years ago. Big old black dude. And we're having this great conversation, and I'm sharing what's going on in my life. I might be, you know, where I could see we're headed for divorce, too, because you can see it coming. And just talked about God a little bit, but really just about life. And then hugged this dude. It felt like 10 minutes. I mean, it probably wasn't that long, but that energy. Right. Like, so I'm just. And I'm. And I told him, I've told other people. I'm like, I'm just going to keep taking this. Just let me just keep taking this energy right now, you know?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I don't know, man. If you can just get people to take their mask off and there's just. There's so much that, like, we could do together. That individual could do stuff obviously on their own as well. But you're just more open to other ideas. And you're out of the echo chamber at that point. Right. Because you're not. The noise is gone and you're. You're being real. Correct.

[B]

Which is what I think I'm doing here. Like, the moment Rudy sat me in the podcast chair and I started saying, started talking the crazy faith talk, people started going, huh?

[A]

Huh?

[B]

Like, like, wait, what? You're. You're. You look like that and you're talking in the. What? Oh, yeah. This is the thing I do. And I don't know where it comes from. It's coming.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So when I was being my authentic self and doing the crying and all the things, things started turning in my life. Just like, fast forward, quick positive.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I was walking in faith, speaking in faith. I'm back on camera doing what I love. And in many ways, I'm the transcension of the word because of, like, this is what it looks like to be saved, and this is what it looks like to Go through pain to go through darkness. Stay in the darkness, but be light. But understand that in my darkness, I am powerful. And I have so many folks that need to hear this because they think they're sitting in light and they're like, nothing's happening. I'm just getting a suntan. But they walk in darkness. Go, hey, yeah, I feel confident and powerful here, but I'm being told that, no, that's wrong. I'm like, oh, no, Jesus is modernized a bit. Like, we cannot expect that. Jesus is just Jerusalem cruisers. And like, no, dude, the motherfucker turned water into wine for a reason. Like, there's all sorts of reasons. And the last person that sat there gave me his whole interpretation of what that meant. I have an interpretation. You have an interpretation. But that's the beautiful thing of the. The stories. We all have our interpretations. As long as we are speaking, it is what matters.

[A]

Right? Yeah. And trying to speak it in love. I mean, yes. There's a way to say it just like you're doing here. Like, there's a way to have those conversations without brow beating, I think they used to say, or, you know, Bible thumping, all those things.

[B]

It's the word. Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

But, yeah, Jesus. And I've had this conversation, just total sidebar with my daughters, actually. Like, what is the church gonna do? You know, the church. Church with, like, people have evolved or whatever, just. And we've seen it through time. Like, what are you going to do? Yeah, like, you got to. You can change the message without changing, like, the heart of the message. The truth. You can change the message without changing the truth. And I think there's a way to do that. I haven't put much mind into that because I've been so focused on building my shop, but for sure. But definitely, I think in that space, there's. There's some problems that could be solved and some solutions that can be done to. To let people know. Sounds like a lame term.

[B]

Giant video game avatar character with this giant place where people can flock to. And they know that whoever that is in this giant avatar location in digital space comes from a place of love. But all the exterior is, like, dark and awesome and gold and black. If only. If only.

[A]

I think, you know, you have your next venture.

[B]

Maybe.

[A]

I don't know. Yeah.

[B]

With that Mike. Mike, my amazing brother of any. This Vincent. What. What will we. Well, we already asked you that. What are we going to learn about in your episode? What happens next for you?

[A]

We.

[B]

We're in the holidays. Thanksgiving's around the corner. Christmas is around the corner. There's going to be a lot of lonely folks out there. This probably will air after the holidays, but any positive affirmations or feedback for folks that are sitting around lonely when they should be around family? Any. Any.

[A]

Any feedback? Yeah, that's. That's excellent. Like, excellent. Just because I've experienced that this past year, just being divorced, single. I mean, I'm close to my girls. I mean, we're literally. The house is about five minutes from each other. My shop's five minutes from there. And so. But, you know, like, holidays. Like this Thanksgiving, we were gonna ask my wife or we were talking about. I don't know, whatever it was, but I said, why don't we eat together? You know, so we were going to eat together, but then it came down here and took my daughter. But, like, so Thanksgiving, I'll be home Thursday. I probably won't open the shop because it's Thanksgiving, but also I might just. Because I'll be there. I'm alone and I haven't been there in a week, and I miss my place. But, yeah, there's. The last year we wanted to do this and we didn't. But this year I probably will, actually. I just need to do it especially now to have the space. It's just to provide like a dinner or like during Christmas time or even on Thanksgiving. I can't do it this year because I'm just not ready. Because that's like in two days. But we do. There's people up there on the bluff on that mountain. That's. That don't. That they are lonely.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They don't have anybody old, young, you know, it doesn't matter. But to just invite them, like we're. Come here to this space. You don't have to make it, like, for all the lonely people. You just were having an event, you know, y' all come down here, we're gonna be feeding you something like that. And then. And of course that helps with note, like, your business being noticed and all that. But that's. That's not why. That's like the afterthought, I guess.

[B]

Yeah. But I never call it friends giving either.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I have never been to a friend.

[A]

Again, I'm like. I don't even. I don't like it.

[B]

It.

[A]

Like, what are we giving? Friends giving.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Anyway.

[B]

Yeah, so.

[A]

So, yeah, those are things I want to do also with. We just. We just moved, like, locations from one side of the parking lot to the other. It's. It's. It's new. It's like higher ceilings. I took down the drop ceiling, painted it and did all the things. And so with that, we're gonna do a mural on that, on that wall there. Community based. But when I get back home, hit the ground running. We're doing the Black Friday sales now. Discounts on a lot of stuff. And just boosted an ad this morning. Hopefully that does well. And then still setting up the new space. I've got to put like a green screen or something in the back, something I can just take photos on. I've already got some good backdrops, but we're still like filling out the space. It's functional, it works, but it's not the way I want it yet because it's been, we've been in there about four weeks, but it still looks pretty badass, honestly, for such a short period of time. And I, and only reason I say that is because people keep saying it looks good when I'm like, it's not. I'm making excuses like, no, it looks good and it does, but you know, it's not the way I want it yet. Yeah. Next time you're.

[B]

When you're ready to do like a launch within social media, you should have like a meet up for models and photographers to meet there and use your clothes to model and photographers can just set up and do photos. We all free of charge and just

[A]

everyone could just, you know, we've done that once and I would, I would want, I want to do more. I mean, there's so many things I want to do, but part of this too. There's been like this black cloud over me for five years and I don't know how much we want to get into all this.

[B]

I'll save for the episode. This is the warm up for that.

[A]

Well, yeah. So I've been living under a false accusation for five years.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

I mean, very public. And I have a public shop. You know, I'm there. I've been there for three years and even when I opened it, I'm like, what am I doing? And then it just got to this point, like, I know who I am. So you. Yeah, yeah, dude, I'm gonna. This is what I'm doing. Like, and you can. And, and it's enough. Yeah, we'll say something, but there's been some criticism, there's been some attacks. There's definitely been the first event I tried to do like, like that shooting, bringing like models and photographers. There was push, there was excitement. And then word got out. Oh, do you hear this? So then they don't come now some people stuck through it. Jasmine, she's works at a Alabama School of Fine Arts. She's awesome woman. She came down there, led the charge, got another photographer there too. A couple models came in. Is actually probably good because we may not have been able to handle if it was what it was. Sure, sure. But still, it was. It was nice that people still believe in you. Right?

[B]

Of course.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, man. And so what was it? Who's the Pauls?

[A]

Who are.

[B]

Who are the people that are pouring into you? Is what I learned from our previous.

[A]

Everyone needs a. Yeah, everyone needs a. A Paul and a Timothy.

[B]

There it is.

[A]

You should be pouring into someone else and you should be being poured into.

[B]

That's exactly what Studio one's gonna. You all need to meet City one and two, y'. All.

[A]

Let's do it.

[B]

You should have your own podcast. Gosh, man, what. What amazing energy. What a great way to do a proper Tuesday right before Thanksgiving. Uh, Vincent, uh, again, I'm eager to learn more about your episode. And yeah, we're just going to wrap it up until I mumble my way and fumble my way out this outro. This is Vincent. Where can people learn more about you? Do you have a website, a Facebook group?

[A]

Sure. Bluff park vintage dot com. Bluff Park Vintage Instagram. I believe it's also Bluff park vintage on TikTok might be slightly different, but yeah, hit us up. My gosh. I mean, we're on Facebook too. Left Park Vintage.

[B]

Now it's Bluff Park Vintage B, L,

[A]

U, F, F. Like on the Bluff Park. Like it. You spell park, not with a C. Okay. And vintage.

[B]

Because I keep hearing Love Park Vintage.

[A]

Well, it feels like a lot of love. Is there?

[B]

Yeah. Do you own Love Park Vintage?

[A]

No, but that sounds like something I want.

[B]

You probably should pick that up before I do right now. Love Park Vintage. This is the founder of. Of Bluff Park Vintage and future owner of Love Park Vintage Vintage.

[A]

Coming soon.

[B]

Coming soon. And with that, this is Vincent. I am Ray and we are inside. Success.