In 1989, Dallas Pridgen opened his first jewelry operation in a 200 square foot space in the back of a hair shop on Rosemary Street in downtown Chapel Hill. Desperate for customers, Dallas scrounged up a few thousand dollars to place his first ad in The Smithsonian Magazine, which eventually elevated his business to where it is today: Over 1,000 unique products and a storefront in downtown Hillsborough. Though the storefront doesn’t get much foot traffic, Dallas Pridgen Jewelry produces pieces for everyone from Hollywood movie productions, to bikers, to everyday people like you and me.

A Taste of Orange is a new series that seeks out the most interesting businesses in Orange County and shares their best stories. Watch for new episodes exclusively on Chapelboro.com.

Produced by Alex Curley & Akiva Fox.