Water Rails & Oil - Historic Mid & South Jefferson County

SNOOPER’S
PARADISE
A direct importer of fine European
antique furniture and objects d’art, Snooper’s
Paradise at 5509 East Parkway, Groves,
Texas, also carries top lines of reproductions,
including Althorpe, Maitland Smith, Thedore
Alexander, Habersham, and fine chandeliers by
Schonbek, Savoy and John Richards.
In the early 1950s, John Hampton
helped the Service League Charity of
Port Arthur by purchasing secondhand
furniture and setting up a shop
for them on Ninth Avenue. Having developed
a love for antique furniture, Hampton
opened a store on Bluebonnet Avenue in
1952 purchasing items at estate sales in
New Orleans, Philadelphia and Boston to
stock his store.
His son, Jon, joined him in the business
in 1959 and they made their first buying
trip to Europe. Since that time they
have purchased almost exclusively in Europe,
making several trips annually. Jon’s wife,
Terry, joined him in business as a vice
president in 1975, and they have made
buying trips together to Holland, England,
Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, Hong Kong,
China and India. Jon’s son Scott joined the
business in 1987.
Snooper’s was among the first U.S. importers
to use SeaLand Containers for shipments
from Europe.
Snooper’s primary customer base
encompasses Texas and Louisiana, but sales and
shipment sites have also included Florida,
Washington, D.C., California, and Alaska.
Liberace was among Snooper’s famous
customers stopping by in 1960, while he was in
Port Arthur to present a concert. Casually
dressed in blue jeans and a pullover, rather than
his trademark glittering attire, he purchased
many of the best pieces on display, and had
them sent to California.
Many of Snooper’s ten staff members have
been with the business for over thirty years.
Among them are Mary Nell Dore, Jean
Duplantis, Pat Sheppard, and Barbara Ryan.
More recent additions are Shirley Adams and
Byron Broussard.
Thanks in part to their goal of providing the
highest quality and selection of antique and new
merchandise to clients at the most reasonable
prices possible and providing exemplary
service, Snooper’s has grown from a 5,000-
square-foot building and $50,000 in annual
sales to a 30,000-square-foot showroom and
sales of over seven figures.
90 ✦ WATER, RAILS & OIL