Bijou Betties is an Emporium of Eclectic Wares

Jun 25, 2023

Bijou Betties owner Kelly Welker; photo by Klare Perez

Bijou Betties, which aptly translates to “jeweled women,” is a glittering jewel box in Southtown, where you never know what you might find. From an almost $8,000 pre-1850s fruitwood French armoire to locally made $2 calcite worry stones, there’s something for every taste and budget in this world of timeless treasures curated by owner Kelly Welker.

Welker, who also works full-time as the owner of Renaissance Wealth Management Group, has been passionate about collecting antiques since she and her husband were students at the University of Texas at Austin. “We used to go to estate sales and Round Top for fun,” she says. “We started accumulating so much stuff that we needed a place to put it.”

After a brief stint at the Antique Mall on Blanco Road, Welker opened Bijou Betties in September 2020 on South Alamo Street. Inspired by Philadelphia’s South Street, where unique antique shops are tucked in between bars and restaurants and stay open until midnight, Welker wanted to create something that blended into and enhanced the neighborhood that is known for its fun and funky vibe. To Welker’s experienced eye, the Southtown spot was located in what she calls an “antique area with no antique stores,” making it the ideal place to hang her shingle.

“I love this area for the historical value of it,” she says, adding that they’re now surrounded by restaurants like Up Scale and Little Em’s Oyster Bar.

To stock her space, Welker scours auctions worldwide, looking for furniture, china, crystal, art, clothing, rugs and authenticated designer bags. And while she may carry some vintage finds, Welker quickly points out that she is not a “vintage” or “thrift” shop.

“The thing about antiques that fascinates me is how well made they are,” Welker says. “Most antiques were made by hand and built to stand the test of time. The newer stuff just doesn’t last.”