A Full-Circle Story... 79 Years in the Making
Pres Garrett, Owner of Starling Cards and Comics (center), with two generations of Ferrells: Carter Ferrell (left) and Duke Ferrell (right).
Some projects are about beautiful architecture. Others are about innovative design.
This one is about coming home.
When visitors step inside the beautifully restored historic building at 18 East Church Street in Uptown Martinsville, they see a thoughtfully renovated mixed-use space that blends history with retail and modern living. For ActivWall President and Co-Founder Duke Ferrell, however, the building represents something much more personal. Nearly eight decades after his father helped establish one of Martinsville’s most beloved businesses there, products from the company Duke co-founded now have a permanent place in the same building.
Long before it housed luxury apartments and a specialty retail store, the building was a former Woolworth’s and later became home to McCollum & Ferrell Shoes.
Founded in 1947 by Duke’s father and his business partner, McCollum & Ferrell Shoes grew into one of the largest shoe stores in Virginia. For generations of Martinsville families, shopping there became a tradition. Many still remember sitting in the famous King and Queen chairs as children while having their feet measured before picking out a new pair of shoes.
For Duke, the memories are even more personal.
At just 12 years old, he began working at the family business, washing windows, unloading shoe shipments, and assisting the sales clerks. Those early experiences helped shape the work ethic and customer-first mindset that would later influence the company Duke would go on to build.
McCollum & Ferrell Shoes remained a downtown destination until 2000. After the Martinsville location closed, the building passed through several owners, housing a variety of businesses before eventually sitting vacant for several years.
That changed when Pres Garrett, a local business owner, purchased the property. He needed a larger location for his growing business, Starling Cards & Comics, and had a vision of restoring the historic landmark while honoring its rich history.
Carter Ferrell opens the Folding Window in a loft bedroom to view the spacious main living area below.
Today, the street-level floor is the new home to Starling Cards & Comics, a thriving business that specializes in games, comics, and community fun. In this space, visitors can still experience many of the building’s original character-defining features. The original hard maple floors have been carefully restored, the beloved King and Queen chairs once again welcome young visitors, and the original bronze McCollum & Ferrell Shoes sign, once displayed on the building’s exterior, has been preserved inside as a tribute to the building’s past.
Upstairs, the building has been transformed into thoughtfully designed 2 and 1-bedroom apartments featuring quality finishes, spacious layouts, and views of the city and distant mountains.
Hallways connecting the residences feature murals by a local artist that showcase vintage advertisements from McCollum & Ferrell Shoes, creating a visual link between the building’s history and its new purpose.
Two of the apartments feature loft spaces overlooking the main living area. To help those lofts feel open, connected, and filled with natural light, Pres and his contractors at Frith Construction selected ActivWall Folding Windows.
Each apartment features a four-panel Folding Window in a 2L-2R configuration, creating an open interior connection between the loft and the living space below. Unlike a traditional fixed opening, ActivWall Folding Windows can be opened for conversation, airflow, and visibility or closed when privacy or sound separation is desired. Pres shared, “I am so happy that I was able to incorporate ActivWall products into my project. The windows are not only for views but are wonderful dividers of our personal space.”
Built with thermally broken aluminum frames and premium hardware, the Folding Windows provide lasting durability, energy efficiency, and smooth operation while complementing both modern and historic architecture. Their flexibility made them an ideal solution for maximizing natural light while preserving the openness that defines the renovated apartments.
For Duke Ferrell, seeing ActivWall products installed inside the same building where he learned the value of hard work is a moment he never expected.
“As a kid, I never imagined that one day products from the company I would help build would become part of the same building where my father built his business. Seeing ActivWall become part of this building’s next chapter, 79 years after McCollum & Ferrell Shoes first opened its doors, is incredibly meaningful. It’s a reminder that while businesses evolve, the values of quality craftsmanship, serving customers well, and investing in our community can carry on for generations.”
Today, the restored landmark stands as both a celebration of Martinsville’s history and an investment in its future. Pres added that he is “happy to bring this wonderful building back to life and create a meaningful impact in Uptown Martinsville.”
For ActivWall, it’s more than just another completed project. Some of the most meaningful projects aren’t measured only by the products installed—but by the stories they help continue
Starling Cards & Comics carries a wide selection of strategy games, including Magic, Pokémon, D&D, Warhammer, and more.
A spacious two-bedroom loft apartment overlooking Church Street in Uptown Martinsville.
The view from the ActivWall Folding Window highlights the building’s historic architectural details.
Modern games at Starling Cards & Comics are paired with the nostalgia of the iconic King and Queen chairs.
Hand-painted murals on the upper floor give a creative nod to the building’s past.
Pres Garrett is joined by family, friends, and city officials for a ribbon-cutting at the new store location.
Product Specs:
The 96.5″ x 36.25″ ActivWall Folding Windows have four panels and are set up in a 2L-2R out-swing configuration. They are made with thermally broken aluminum frames and finished in dark bronze powder-coat with matching hardware and a flush sill. Since this is an interior application, and thermal control is not needed, the units have single pane glazing which reduces the overall cost and weight.
Acknowledgments:
Story and photos by ActivWall. Architecture by Huber Architects. Renovation by Frith Construction. Cabinetry by Serenity Cabinets & Millwork. Countertops by Stone Dynamics. Special thank you to Pres Garrett.
