NEW ANTIQUE BUSINESS: OFFERING THE PERFECT FIND FOR THE TREASURE HUNTER INSIDE US ALL

While antiques are old, "antiquing," on the other hand, is something relatively new, and judging from the number of antique stores popping up in Allamakee County, across Iowa and around the world, it is becoming a very popular activity.
Waukon's newest store on the antique trail is "Antiques on Main" which is under the ownership of Tom and Diana Deeney, and is located in the front section of the building housing Tom's Electronics. While Tom will still be doing limited electronic repairs and selling TV's and VCR's, they are selling off their videos to make more room for the antiques, which they say they learn a lot about as they go along.
The antique section of the store "opened its doors" on May 1, and according to Tom and Diana, they have had a steady stream of people through ever since. But, they state, this would not have happened without the support and encouragement from Larry and Joanne Gelo at the Allamakee Antique Mall, who have been showing them the ropes and sending people their way in hope that Antiques on Main has what the antique hunter is looking for. "It is common knowledge," says Diana, "that if you have more than one antique store in town, people are more likely to visit that community, as it makes better use of their time."
For the Deeney's, antiques were the obvious activity to diversify into. Both have been avid antique hunters for most of their married life, spending many of their weekends exploring the small towns in the Midwest, and, as Diana puts it, "always ending up in an antique store."
Tom says that many customers have commented the store is like a museum, and just browsing through the store, it is not hard to see why. There is an old hand corn planter in one booth, two sets of wooden skies in another, and even some old iron wagon wheel wrenches just waiting for the right person to come along. "Every item has a story," says Diana, "which we learn when people bring them in to sell."      And in the case of the buyer there is usually a story as well. Usually they are on the lookout for a piece to decorate their home or something to add to a collection.
The Deeney's also see themselves as matchmakers. Diana explains that, "when people go antiquing, they are often after that eighth carnival glass to match their set. They are looking for a specific item and if we can find what they want, it is good for everybody - the consignee, buyer and consignor," says Diana. Diana also mentioned that people like to reminisce about what they find, and most really enjoy, and have an occasional chuckle at the memories that the antiques bring back.
Finding that eighth glass or that plate to add to your collection, or an old hand sift just like grandma had, or even a wagon wheel wrench to hang and compliment the wagon wheel you had in the barn for years, is what makes antiquing so much fun. As Tom put it, "looking for something specific is what makes the adventure of antiquing a challenge, and finding that item makes a success of the challenge of looking."
Antiques on Main have two ways in which they accept antiques or collectables for sale. Individuals or families can rent a booth for a small monthly fee. The renter maintains the booth for as long as they wish and has the option of having a constant turnover of items. The other way to have items for sale is a consignment where just a few pieces are displayed. But in both cases, the items must be in good taste, which means you won't find any junk at this store. There will also be a bulletin board in the store where, for a small posting fee, a person can advertise large items such as furniture.
So if you have some items in your cupboard or attic, Antiques On Main may be just the place to bring them. Sought after items at the moment are old postcards of Waukon and Allamakee county, and items such as plates, calendars and bottle openers, that were given away as gifts from Waukon businesses.
Antiques on Main is located on E. Main Street, Waukon, and is open daily year round from 9 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. and on Sundays (May till September) from 1 p.m. till 5:30 p.m.