Court Street Antiques isn't the only antiques shop on Saginaw's boutique strip. There are several.
But it's by far the biggest, according to owner Jennifer McKendre, who opened the doors to her 5,000-square-foot mall of vintage everything in December. She bills her shop, a former military surplus supply store, as a spot to peruse and purchase quality antiques, vintage finds and unique upscale items.
"One of the reasons that I chose Saginaw for my business is because there isn't much competition," she says. "There are other, much smaller shops here, but we are all very supportive of each other. If someone can't find what they want in my shop, I'll send them down the street."
The other shop owners extend the same courtesy.
"We send clients back and forth, depending what they want," she says.
McKendre's shop is chock full of tools, jewelry, furniture and a mixture of Victorian-era items, among many other vintage treasures.
"I have 15 dealers here, so I don't really specialize in anything," she says. "That's the fun of this. It's a very eclectic mix."
McKendre's shop is in its infancy, but she is pleased about the strong stream of customers steadily strolling through her doors seeking ageless collectibles and one-of-a-kind finds.
"New people come in every week, but we're starting to see a lot of repeat customers coming back. Business is wonderful."
Kelle Barr has freelanced for over 20 years, writing business and corporate news for many national publications and trade magazines as well as regional publications. Contact her at kellebarr@gmail.com.
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