Today we’d like to introduce you to Connie (Cornelia) Wilder.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I am trained in soft lines
• Worked corporately in soft lines & hard lines in Austin, Texas (Joske’s of Texas & Frost Bros.)
• Worked at Whole Earth Prov. Co. near the University of Texas before starting my own business
• In the summer of 1978, leaped to move home (Brenham) & open The Pomegranate in Sept.
• Started as a gourmet housewares shop with gourmet foods & whole-bean coffee
• Expanded twice in the past years to include tabletop & giftware; business is now a city block deep
• Offer a full line of the tabletop by major suppliers for the bridal registry
• Opened the first coffee bar in Brenham (Garden Alley) in 1985
• Moved the coffee bar to the front of the store; rechristened it Wired n’ Inspired; was the first to offer free internet; no, there was no Starbucks in Brenham at the time they moved in on the loop several years later
• Funky Art Cafe opened in the back of the store in 2001, serving mostly-from-scratch eclectic foods; the menu changed every 3-4 months
• The Cafe went on to offer catering as well under the name Adams 205
• Closed the cafe in 2021, not due to covid went out at the top of my game; it was time to move on to something less strenuous
• Expanded the housewares offerings of The Pomegranate & are now offering cooking classes/demos; some taught by myself, some by ‘imports.’
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not the recession of 1980 covid high gas prices (remember: We are in a small town & compete with the opening of the county fair).
Presently:
• Broken supply chain
• High freight
• Out-of-control inflation
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Customer service is at the top of the list for both businesses. Guests are greeted & made to feel welcome in the stores. Repeat guests, especially coffee bar guests, like that their drinks are customized to their liking & that they (both drink &/or person) are remembered. The Pomegranate is known for unequaled customer service. Regular-priced gifts are wrapped at no charge. Packages are taken to the guest’s car if necessary. We carry Waterford, Wedgwood, Lenox, Reed & Barton, & many other exclusive tabletop lines. The Pomegranate also carries high-quality German-made cookware as well as made-in-the-USA bakeware. We pride ourselves on special orders for guests.
Wired n’ Inspired uses only the best drink ingredients: imported Italian espresso beans, top-of-the-line syrups, and coffee beans roasted in Texas with one-day delivery. Freshly baked scones are available daily; other chefs choose pastries/desserts to enjoy with a cup of coffee. There are comfortable chairs & sofas for guests to visit & relax and tables & chairs for larger groups that want to meet or visit.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
Not sure this applies to us, but The Pomegranate / Wired n’ Inspired works with many local charities & non-profits:
• Boys’ & Girls’ Club
• Camp for All
• Brenham State School
• Public as well as Private schools
• Brenham Main St. Program
• Brenham Heritage Museum
• Unity Theater
Contact Info:
- Website: thepomegranategifts.com
- Instagram: @thepomegranategifts
Image Credits
Shannon Buck Photography
