You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 6 a.m.

Chelsea Antique Mall opens with 27 vendors on South Main Street

By Lisa Allmendinger

.

Chelsea Antique Mall - Ed Greenleaf 10-10.JPG

Ed Greenleaf stands next to the truck outside the Chelsea Antique Mall that displays the sign for the collection of antique dealers on the south side of the city.

Lisa Allmendinger | For AnnArbor.com

The Chelsea Antique Mall has been growing rapidly since it opened its doors with eight antique and collectible vendors. Twenty-six days after the opening, there were 27 mini-businesses at the 1178 S. Main St. location.

Owned by Ed and Kathy Greenleaf of Lima Township, the antique mall fills the space formerly rented to Aberdeen Bike and Outdoors in the Chelsea Lanes building.

It had been vacant for two years after the bike shop moved across the street to 1101 S. Main St. and doubled its space.

“The antique mall is a great fit for Chelsea. (It's) become an artsy-craftsy community,” Ed Greenleaf said. "So many people have come in and said ‘We needed this.’”

The antique mall was an idea from the Greenleafs' niece, Jamie Lane.

“We were at a family gathering and she suggested the idea,” Ed Greenleaf said, adding they visited several antique shops for ideas before dividing up the 3,000-square-foot area at the front of the building.

Chelsea antique mall 10-10.JPG

Some of the unusual items found for sale in the Chelsea Antique Mall.

Lisa Allmendinger | For AnnArbor.com

With this space already filled, Greenleaf is expanding to the back storage area in the building, which will host 10 more booths for a total of 4,100 square feet of vendor space.

The booths range from 5 by 8 feet to 9 by 12 feet. One cash register serves all the vendors.

“We collect no commission on sales,” Ed Greenleaf said, adding vendors are sent checks on the 15th and the 30th of each month.

“Half of them signed up for six months, the other pay rent for their spaces one month at a time,” he said.

He and Lane, who also maintains a booth in the mall, man the store throughout the week.

Sales are brisk, Greenleaf said, and vendors are constantly adding new items. Offerings include glassware, books, collectibles, records, old maps, furniture, lamps, clocks, artwork, trading cards, knickknacks, holiday ornaments, antique toys for children, and handcrafted items. Shoppers can find everything from a Victrola and a “Melodeon” pump organ to hide-and-seek paintings by Bev Doolittle.

An old truck with a sign in the bed alerts motorists to the antique mall's existence on the south side of Chelsea.

Dana Rudnikov of Chelsea sells vintage clothing and she says this is her first venture out of her garage and into the retail world.

Chelsea antique mall vintage clothing 10-10.JPG

Dana Rudnikov of Chelsea is one of 26 vendors at the Chelsea Antique Mall. She sells vintage clothing.

Lisa Allmendinger | For AnnArbor.com


She became fascinated by clothing as a child when her parents bought a Victorian House that was filled with trunks of old clothes. Some of her vintage clothing is more than 60 years old, she said. 

Lisa Allmendinger is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached via e-mail at lallmendinger@sbcglobal.net

Comments

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 8:32 a.m.

Seems like we could use an even better name for this mall as well. 27 different vendors...with a wide variety of products...a great concept; and an excellent new destination for one of the county's nicest areas.

Top Cat

Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 7:15 a.m.

What if, as an economic recovery plan, we stopped all imports for 12 months. We spent that time solely selling our excess stuff and "antiques" to one another. We hold a national garage sale on the first Saturday of every month. All sales are exempt from sales tax. All incomes and gains are tax exempt as well. Now all I need is a clever and catchy name for this.