After several years of being a hobby, John and Becky Garrou established Garrou Pottery in January of 1982 with a retail shop and workshop at their home in the Pleasant Gardens Community of McDowell County. The Black Mountain shop was opened in March of 1997. Becky Garrou manages the shop and keeps a wide selection of pottery in many colorful glazes. . Black Mountain is an interesting "walk around" town with many shops and galleries. Her husband John and their son Derrick make the pottery at the original workshop.

John began making pottery in 1974 and has always enjoyed working at the potter’s wheel. He learned pottery from E. J. Brown, one of the master potters of the Brown family. E. J. was a good friend and had a great impact on John’s pottery. John says, "When I ran into a problem I didn’t have to spend days or weeks trying to find the solution. I just went to see Mr. Brown. He always had the answer. E. J. was tremendous potter." Over several years John’s pottery improved. He developed many items and colorful glazes always with the dream of being a full time potter.

Derrick grew up around the pottery. He showed interest from the start and would watch for hours while his dad worked. As he grew he began to help in the shop and started working on the wheel in grammar school. Upon graduation from McDowell High School Derrick took his place in the family business. He shares John’s enthusiasm for pottery and together they work to turn clay into pots.