Chelsea Antique Mall opens with 27 vendors on South Main Street
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Lisa Allmendinger | For AnnArbor.com
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.
Lisa Allmendinger | For AnnArbor.com
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.
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.
Dana Rudnikov of Chelsea sells vintage clothing and she says this is her first venture out of her garage and into the retail world.
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.
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.