Antiques & Uniques boasts one of the most comprehensive selections of vintage and antique goods in the area
By Patricia Nugent
Most of the tens of thousands of folks touring the Lake County YMCA Dream House, which opens Saturday, June 29, will leave with the wonder of how they can incorporate some of that reclaimed modern farmhouse charm into their own homes.
The answer awaits just a few stoplights and just under three miles away at Antiques & Uniques in Wickliffe.
From galvanized steel wall word sculptures to dining tables fashioned from barn doors, turn-of-the-century kitchen tools and salvaged architectural window frames, this home shopping mecca boasts an eclectic variety of repurposed furniture and home décor ranging from retro to vintage, antique to mid-century, industrial to modern.
“Whatever style or period you’re looking for, you’ll find it here—along with inspiration,” says owner Barb Berges. “We get lots of interior decorators through our doors. It’s fun to work checkout and see the amazing things they put together.”
More than 100 dealers set up shop within this 24,000-square-foot shopping space.
“We’re like a mall and the dealers are independent stores,” says Barb. “Everyone has their own specialty, whether it’s wood pieces or wall art, cut-crystal serving pieces, china and lighting. We have a dealer who specializes in Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral paint, so our following of DIY-ers can pick out a piece of furniture and one-stop-shop for a slew of colors to give it a fresh look.”
The dealers are constantly changing their offerings, so each day is different.
You peruse from mini-store to mini-store and there is one central check-out, no matter how many different booths you buy from.
“Some of our master craftsmen are wizards at refashioning older items into funky new ones, such as a vase made from a trumpet, or a light fixture that was once a circular fan,” she says.
Furnishings With a Past
The furniture gallery in the back of Antiques & Uniques offers an expansive selection of bedroom sets, bookshelves, coffee tables, dining room sets and armoires that are built to last.
Some of the pieces have a story to tell, such as the bench salvaged from a horse-drawn buggy, or an 1800s wrought iron bed frame.
She says one of the hottest furniture trends is industrial, or “steampunk” style of tables made from reclaimed pipes, winches, sewing machines and other rustic machinery that’s retrofitted for a new purpose.
Make a Day of It
It literally takes hours to go through all the shopping spaces, so why not stay for lunch or a snack?
The newly reopened Café 20 features a delectable array of homemade dishes, from Philly steak sandwiches to tacos, chili and all beef hot dogs and brats.
Festive murals depict many of the stops along the historic Route 20, which runs from coast to coast.
Focused on Giving Back
Each month Robin Hyett, store manager, selects a community charity and offers it a booth positioned in front of the store. As both an awareness booster and fundraiser, the section is manned by people from each organization.
This month the spotlight is focused on the Lake County YMCA and its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Dream House.
Antiques & Uniques is located within the Gabe’s Plaza at 30200 Euclid Avenue in Wickliffe. Hours are Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 440-944-0133 or visit AntiquesAndUniquesOH.com. Check out their Facebook page every Wednesday for photos of the week, posted to reflect what’s trendiest at the store.