Marblehead Mercantile combines old, new and unique
MARBLEHEAD - When Connie Batterton wanted to step back from the mundane busywork of running PC Antiques, she handed the business to two of her vendors, Kim Johnson and Pat Lukac. The two women also took over space on the other side of the building that once housed a market, and they opened Marblehead Mercantile in May, an eclectic shop filled with a variety of antiques and giftware.
The shop is really two stores in one. The two sides of Marblehead Mercantile are separated by an inner wall, and each has its own door, but it is the same business. One side houses giftware, home décor, art and repurposed furniture, and the other side features tables full of antiques.
“I’m having a hard time getting people to understand there are two parts to the building. They go in one and think they’ve seen the whole thing,” Johnson said from the home décor side of the business. “The other section is entirely antiques, and this is where we mix it up.”
Skipping one side of the business means missing a lot. Each side featured stands from a unique blend of vendors. Some of the vendors sell handmade home décor created by local artisans, and some, like Pat O’Toole, specialize in particular antiques.
“Pat is the most knowledgeable guy about glassware and crystal,” Johnson said. “He knows a lot about Waterford Crystal.”
The vendor concept works particularly well for the shop, because vendors not only sell their wares through the business, but they are also required to spend time physically working at the shop. Johnson and Lukac and most of the vendors have jobs elsewhere, so sharing the workload works well for everyone.
“It’s perfect. We don’t have to live here, and the vendors really take an interest in the shop,” Johnson said.
Adding giftware and home décor to the business has made the shop appealing to an even greater span of people.
“Not everyone likes antiques. We started seeing ladies coming in, and one would be standing off to the side, because she wasn’t interested in antiques,” Johnson said. “Now we have a little bit of everything. We have something everyone would like in here.”
The concept is working well for the business. On most Saturdays, over 200 people visit the shop. On a recent weekday, a constant stream of shoppers came through, buying everything from beach-themed home décor to antique dolls. Bobbi Lawton of Cambridge was vacationing in the area with her husband, and the two stopped by the store and purchased nautical décor and red pottery bowls.
“This is my first time here, and I love it. We love antiques, but they have a mixture of everything. We’re always looking for old stuff,” she said. “The ladies are really nice here. They’re very friendly.”
Although the shop is packed with vendors, Johnson said she is consolidating some stands to make room for even more. Anyone interested in renting space can contact the shop.
Marblehead Mercantile is located at 215 W. Main St., Marblehead. It can be reached at 419-798-1400. It is open11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The shop will open on weekends during the winter months.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheri.trusty@gmail.com or 419-639-0662.