Founder: Dr. Garlan Gudger
It all started in 1969 when Dr Garlan Gudger started rescuing architectural objects from buildings slated to be demolished in his local Community of Cullman Alabama. Not realizing his hidden desire of antique building materials would flourish into one of the largest stores in the nation, Dr. Gudger just consistently did what he enjoyed year after year - rescuing and restoring architectural salvage. Being ahead of his time, he knew the demand for his recycled material would not balance with the supply he was obtaining, so he started organizing the salvage into his 2 car garage. It didn't take long for word to spread of this "Garage Collection" and the quality of antiques that were showcased. People slowly started to congregate early every Saturday morning to see Dr.Gudger's treasures. Over time, he realized the interest of this industry was gaining momentum and opened a small shop in North Cullman. As always, his desire and years of hard work paid off as he began collecting notoriety for owning the premiere architectural salvage store in Alabama.
Garlan Gudger JR.
Owner
Heather Gudger
Owner
Garlan's earliest memories as a little boy were spent following his father through muddy junkyards, antique shops, and salvage yards across the Southeast. What began as a part time hobby for his father has grown into one of the nation's premier architectural salvage businesses. As the second generation owner of Southern Accents, Garlan proudly carries on the family legacy as a self-proclaimed "junk man." For more than two decades, Garlan has combined his artistic vision with years of hands-on experience in the architectural salvage industry to breathe new life into historic pieces through thoughtful restoration and creative repurposing. He attended Samford University before transferring to Auburn University, where he earned a degree in Building Science with a minor in Business.
Beyond Southern Accents, Garlan has a deep commitment to serving his community and the state of Alabama. After serving three terms as Cullman City Council President, he was elected to the Alabama State Senate, where he is currently serving his third term representing District 4. He also serves as President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate. Heather joined the Southern Accents team as co-owner when she married the love of her life nearly 22 years ago. She manages the day to day office operations and bookkeeping while helping oversee the family business. In 2013, Heather founded SA323, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children enrolled in the Cullman City Primary School Head Start program.
Together, Garlan and Heather have two sons. Their oldest, Garlan III ("Tripp"), is a senior at Samford University, and their youngest, Pierce, is a sophomore at The University of Alabama. The family also shares a love for rescue animals and currently provides a home for Titus and Cleo, their two German Shepherds.
When they're not working, Garlan and Heather enjoy spending time with their family, traveling, discovering unique antiques, and continuing the treasure hunt that first inspired Southern Accents generations ago.