MINOT, N.D. (AP) - A passion for antiques and other items with a history behind them sent Bill and MarlaRae Uscensky in a new direction a couple of years ago.
That’s when they opened Minot’s Vintage City, a cozy and quaint shop in southeast Minot where they not only sell all things collectible but welcome other enthusiasts to drop by for a cup of coffee, a homemade treat and friendly conversation about the joy of the hobby.
MarlaRae Uscensky said opening an antiques store had been their dream for many years. When Bill retired in 2013 after 31 years of teaching including 24 years in Minot they saw an opportunity.
The market is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays of the second and fourth weeks of each month or by appointment. If the Uscenskys happen to be cleaning or re-arranging in the store, consider the store open then, too.
The limited store hours leaves time for the Uscenskys to scour the countryside for more treasures and to refurbish collectibles so they are ready for display in people’s homes.
“We always try to have new things in the store. We don’t want to become stagnant,” Bill Uscensky told the Minot Daily News (https://bit.ly/1gcF05x ).
The limited hours also create a bit of a shopping frenzy, too, since the collectors know they’ve just three days every two weeks to snag their treasures. Fueling the frenzy are sneak peeks the Uscenskys provide on their Vintage City Minot page on Facebook the Mondays before the store opens.
The Uscenskys know what it’s like to be magnetized by antiques stores and flea markets. They understand the shopper excitement about Vintage City, especially with the loss of some of Minot’s other antique outlets since the 2011 Souris River flood.
MarlaRae Uscensky said going to auctions and rummage sales to hunt for antiques was part of life with her family when she was growing up. Over time, she grew to appreciate the hobby for herself.
Bill Uscensky’s interest in antiques formed as heirlooms were passed down in his family.
“We thought it was really neat the quality of things made in those days. I do a lot of woodwork so I could appreciate the craftsmanship,” he said.
The Uscenskys, who have been married for 33 years, rebuilt their home west of Minot after it flooded in 2011, doing much of the work themselves. However, they lost many of their collectibles because they lacked the time and the safe location needed to rescue them. But the couple doesn’t look back.
“There will be more,” MarlaRae Uscensky said. “You just have to look.”
There have been more antiques. It’s been a pleasing discovery to find so many families have taken steps to ensure their heirlooms survive the passage of time, the Uscenskys said.
As a former teacher of industrial arts, Bill Uscensky is drawn to the educational items, such as the old classroom maps and globes, and the woodworking.
MarlaRae Uscensky loves the quilts and other textiles. “Probably because it makes me think of my grandmas,” she said.
She also has a penchant for home decor and showcases her talent in the displays arranged inside Vintage City. One treasure the Uscenskys proudly display but don’t plan to sell is a 1926 dictionary, several inches thick. It had belonged to a county register of deeds and was presented to the Uscenskys by a friend as a gift.
Because the store is small, the Uscenskys have lots of inventory in storage and have been known to sell from what’s in storage to fulfill their customers’ desires. Customers who can’t find what they want can list their items in Vintage City’s wishbook and let the Uscenskys help them scout.
The Uscenskys find they enjoy hunting for other people’s treasures as much as they enjoy searching for their own. They frequent flea markets and auctions but also purchase directly from customers or other individuals who have collectibles they are willing to part with.
“One of my biggest concerns when we started was whether we would be able to have inventory for our customers, but it’s been just wonderful,” Bill Uscensky said.
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Information from: Minot Daily News, https://www.minotdailynews.com
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