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Shortly after meeting in 1978, Gerald asked Joy to accompany him to the Alpine, Texas dump.
There they bonded over their mutual fascination with the possibilities of cast away items.
Since their marriage in 1979, both Joy and Gerald have pursued their passion for repurposing all things.
Los Nopales began in 1994 after purchase of the location from Chuy and Mary Lou Uranga.
It took almost a year to renovate and stock the building. The building was built during the
1940s as a residence for a former property owner, Curly Scarborough who has been described as
an unvarnished west Texas character. The name Los Nopales came about because Joy discovered a
prickly pear cactus growing on the roof of the building.
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Joy has been steadily engaged in providing antique restoration service and upholstery for
customers since the day after closing on the property. Howard’s Wood Care Products are
some of Joy’s favorites for restoring antique wood finishes and reconditioning old wood.
One of the biggest jobs Joy has accepted was the restoration of a wall of kitchen cabinets
with a pass through counter in a 100 year old house in Barstow, Texas. This involved
removing several layers of paint and restoring the finish to match the original color
that was still original in the dining room of the house. The results were immensely
gratifying and now Joy has a connection to the house’s history.
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Tourists from all over the world are frequent visitors and most express appreciation
for the metal sculptures created by Gerald from junk metal. Customers also like the
peaceful and serene environment of the shop and the unique merchandise.
Both Joy and Gerald have been interviewed and featured on Tumbleweed Smith and The Sounds
of Texas radio show.