Hyo Silver grand opening draws crowd

Hyo Silver, one of Bandera’s most recognizable brands and an internationally known provider of trophy buckles, celebrated the grand opening and first anniversary of its new downtown showroom.

The showroom is in the newly remodeled historic 1860 limestone building on the corner of Cedar and 11th Streets in Bandera.

Owner Joanne Symons commented “We felt we needed a presence in downtown Bandera and this beautiful historic building came up for sale, so it was just the perfect time. The log cabin building on 12th Street is now home to administrative offices and the design studio.”

Symons said she decided to purchase the limestone building because she loved its historic look. She said the restoration of the building had become a real passion for her.

“It felt great to restore the building. It was good for the city to see that building renovated. We wanted to create a destination spot in Bandera,” she remarked.

As visitors strolled through the store, they sipped craft beer from Bandera Brewery and wine from Turtle Creek Olives and Vine out of Kerrville and snacked on dried sausage from the Alamo Meat Market in Comfort. Symons said that she preferred to support the business community in the Hill Country.

Well-known local musicians Karen Haile and Paul Hilliard of Retro Flashback provided classic acoustic tunes for the event.

Bandera Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Tammi Boultinghouse said, “The grand opening has been fantastic. This has been a great turn out.”

Even though the showroom opened just shortly after the COVID-19 quarantine began a year ago, it has done very well, according to Symons.

“I am excited for what the future holds,” she exclaimed.

Hyo Silver buckles are known around the world. Entertainer George Strait, actor Mathew McConaughey, and President George Bush all have buckles from Hyo Silver.

Hyo Silver is the official buckle maker for the Brazoria County Fair Association, the Stockyards Rodeo in Fort Worth, the Million Dollar Bull Team Chal lenge, Rodeo Austin, and the Moses Lake RoundUp in Washington state. The Italian Rodeo Association has even purchased buckles from Hyo Silver.

Hyo Silver was established in 1999 by Joanne Symons, an Australian native. Symons began looking for a place to settle down when she moved to the United States in 1993. The Texas Hill Country was recommended. She and her family fell in love with Bandera when they drove through. “We are just small-town people,” she said.

The Downtown Showroom is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and sometimes on select Sundays from 10 AM until 4 PM.

For more information go to the web site at hyosilver. com or on Facebook at Hyo Silver.

Hyo Silver is located at 315 11th Street in Bandera.