---OUR ONLINE STORE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED UNTIL OUR TELEVISION SHOW IS PRODUCED---

THE URBAN TREASURE HUNTER

Brian DuBois’s artistic nature was very apparent at a young age. He would receive musical instruments and art supplies as gifts so he could always have a creative outlet. At age nineteen, Brian put his creativity to work making the Sunday morning cartoons for Hanna-Barbera to support his wife and young children. During one of the company’s hiatuses, Brian browsed through San Fernando Valley coin stores which simply purchased jewelry for the value of the metal and with little to no premium for diamonds or colored stones. Not buying everything, but only what interested him, it turned out that he had an immaculate eye for rare and valuable pieces. He ended up selling every piece that he bought and found this to be very exciting and very profitable. After realizing that making cartoons wasn’t a creative enough venture for him, Brian turned this side job into his sole means for supporting his family. Soon after, he became the go-to guy for evaluating antique, estate, and/or signed (i.e. Cartier, Tiffany, Van Cleef and Arpels) pieces.

Since the mid to late 70s, Brian has been attending various social functions inclusive of music awards, movie premieres, and other artistic events. While attending these affairs, Brian was able to sharpen his artistic eye and understand the value in rarities. He individualized his look by displaying a flair of the past and also creating new trends. With his style, he helped push forward the resurgence of antique and estate jewelry in the mid to late 80s.

Follow the Urban Treasure Hunter in his day to day adventures from pawn shops, estate sales, and garage sales while he searches for mistaken, mispriced, or undervalued treasures. His home base is his Thousand Oaks, California location which is filled with colorful, unique, and eclectic items. From this controlled environment, Brian travels cross country in search of the next big deal. Brian’s broad knowledge and keen eye for uniqueness is not only interesting and intriguing, but is also down-right profitable. Though far from home, Brian keeps connected with his store by his trusted circle of family and associates. Tera, a hip, young Midwestern girl is his go-to person for on the road research and daily, if not hourly, reports of store activities. Tera’s interest in both the business and the cultural aspects of estate jewelry, antiquities, and items of nostalgia keep her days filled with excitement and also puts her in the position of Brian’s protégé. The remaining staff is made up of Brian’s mother, known as Grandma Lulu, and his eccentric sister, Linda.

Brian’s daily buys consist of two to five dollar trinkets, jewelry items worth hundreds of dollars, and pieces of art valued at thousands of dollars. All of these items eventually end up with a buyer who finds them priceless. One of the things that sets Brian apart from other vest-pocket dealers is his shoot-from-the-hip style of business. Even if he is not certain of the value of a particular item, he will buy it just because he finds it interesting or unique. This leads to a suspenseful and dramatic hunt to find out exactly what he has just bought.

Driving the viewer to spend time on the shows website, Brian has created online tutorials in specialties such as vintage jewelry, costume jewelry, musical instruments, toys, art, etc. After completing yet to be set twelve to fourteen tutorials, the viewer is deemed a certified Treasure Hunter. The theme and motive behind this concept is to encourage families, housewives, and kids how to be resourceful and make money in their own back yards. For some 30 years now, the Urban Treasure Hunter’s main occupation has been just that-- urban treasure hunting.

While our show is under production, our online store will be down. If you're in the area though, please stop by our store at:
Urban Treasures
1696 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362