At
its new location in Windham, the “Den of Antiquities” antique and vintage shop
is a treasure trove of childhood memories and do-it-yourself possibilities and
each item sold there has a story to tell.
Now found at 201 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302) in Windham, “The
Den” as customers like to call it, is open this summer on Tuesdays through
Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features some of the most exciting
discoveries to be found in the Sebago Lakes Region.
“We are a multi-vendor shop,” said ‘The
Den’ co-owner Sonja Nielsen. “This allows us to have a large and diverse
variety of styles and merchandise. We have vendors that specialize in vintage
kitchen ware, vintage textiles, florals, tools, furniture, art, toys, coins,
and jewelry. We also have artisan wares such as handmade soaps, herbal teas and
body products, and giftware. We also sell a line of chalk paint and
accessories.”
Across America, sales of antiques are
flourishing, courtesy of the popularity of television shows like “Antiques
Roadshow” and “American Pickers.” For members of nearly every generation,
interest in antiques and items from long ago seems to trigger recollections of
a simpler life and a yearning to own a piece of the past.
Nielsen said she’s found that in the antique business there are
highs and lows in the value and popularity of certain items, but the business
is beloved by many because of its unique link to nostalgia and precious
memories that her customers associate with family and the quality and
versatility of old furniture which can be restored and repurposed to meet
almost every budget.
“The most often-heard comment from our
customers refer to the variety of goods and the weekly and almost daily new
merchandise,” Nielsen said. “In addition, most of our regular shoppers will
tell you how welcoming and comfortable they feel here. We try very hard to
engage with and to get to know our customers on a personal level.”
If a customer is seeking a particular
item not found at ‘The Den,” Nielsen and co-owner Jim Gammon will try and track
it down for them.
“We maintain a wish list for clients,”
Nielsen said. “We will work with our vendors and other contacts to try and find
specific items. We work with clients from all over the world. We have the
capabilities of shipping and sending large freight items all over.”
According to Nielsen, prices at “The
Den” are highly competitive and merchandise is constantly revolving, so each
shopping experience there is different.
“We have more vendors than we have
been able to accommodate before, so we have an even larger offering of new and
ever-changing merchandise,” she said. “We are always looking to buy one item or
a whole estate.”
Nielsen said “The Den” is currently
working on bringing in more Do-It-Yourself products and hopes to create a
studio space for people to visit and work on projects.
Since starting their first brick and
mortar antique store six years ago in Westbrook, Nielsen and Gammon say they
have strived to assist customers through outstanding customer service and a
willingness to help.
“You have to love what you do, care
about the people,” Nielsen said. “Everything else will fall into place.”
For those interested in antiques and
vintage merchandise, the hunt for treasured items heightens the shopping
experience.
Many antique and vintage shoppers in
the Sebago Lakes Region and beyond first came to know “The Den” from visiting
its former location on Route 302 in Westbrook.
“We rapidly
outgrew that space. When the opportunity arose to purchase the new location in
Windham, we jumped on it,” Nielsen said.
The shop’s
new site is an 1840s farmhouse and barn and had been used by previous owner as an
antique shop known as The Ruby Slipper.
“It’s a
wonderful old gal and we are happy to be the new caretakers of the property and
to bring her back to life,” Nielsen said. “So not only do we love her, we call
her the old gal, but it met all the needs for our business.”
For customers who are at a high risk
or require special shopping accommodations, earlier hours are available by
appointment.
For more information about the “Den of
Antiquities,” call 207-650-3007 or visit www.denofantiquitiesme.com or connect
to them on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OctoberHouseAntiques/. <