Store features antiques, art
By Angie Landsverk
Sarah and Tim Marcelja turned their love of collecting into a business.
They opened Vintage Plus the Mercantile on April 2, in King.
“Because of all the stuff we had, we either needed to rent more space, or sell the stuff we had,” she said.
Before starting their business, they first rented a booth at Antiques on Main, in downtown Waupaca.
They outgrew the space.
“Tim was driving past here and said, ‘You know, that building is still available,’” Sarah said.
That was the beginning of February.
On March 1, they opened the doors for dealers.
“We were full by the time we opened (on April 2),” she said. “We didn’t have to advertise. It was word of mouth.”
Located at N2544 County Trunk QQ, the store combines their interests in collectibles and art.
Inside the shop are antiques, as well as vintage, estate, repurposed and upcycled items.
“The ‘Plus’ is the fact we have local artists,” she said.
Sarah describes their store as being three-fourths vintage and one-fourth art.
The artwork includes jewelry, pottery, tilework, acrylics, watercolors, woodworking and knitted items.
Local honey and maple syrup are also for sale.
They lease the building, and 27 vendors fill the 32 spaces in it.
“We pride ourselves on it being clean, neat, airy and bright,” she said.
Scented items must be in sealed containers.
Sarah said they do not want people leaving the store because of sensitivities to scents or allergies.
All but two of their vendors are from the area, and those two are from Greenville and Green Bay.
“Each vendor sets up their area and does their pricings,” Sarah said. “We take care of the building.”
When large items sell, they rearrange those areas and let the vendors know they may bring in more items.
Tim and Sarah also have their own items in the shop.
“Our basement’s full (at home),” she said.
In addition, they also buy wholesale and do minimal consignment.
The couple met in 2004.
He was a bricklayer for 35 years, and she worked in trucking.
She taught him how to drive a truck.
“One snowstorm and he was done,” Sarah said.
She was done after Hurricane Katrina.
They then managed group homes for five years.
“That’s when we got into collecting,” Tim said. “We took our clients places and would stop in stores and shops and pick up a little here and there.”
Sarah describes Vintage Plus as eclectic and said, “There’s something for everyone.”
Open year round, the store is handicap accessible.
Its hours from May 1 through the Christmas season are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
They plan to sell pumpkins in the fall and then Christmas trees.
“We want to make it a destination,” Sarah said.
During the off season, their shop will be closed on Tuesdays.
They already held a grand opening and will hold a sidewalk sale on Saturday, May 26.
Booth space is being rented around the building.
Those interested in renting a space may contact them at 715-721-6734.
They also know what the theme of their one-year anniversary will be next year.
It will be “We survived Evelyn,” and they plan to decorate the inside of their store with paper snowflakes.
That will be in reference to the mid-April snowstorm that dumped more than two feet of snow in the area.
“We’re having fun,” Tim said.
Sarah said, “We’re having a blast. I’ve never seen him happier. It’s kind of like the way truck driving was. It’s not a job. It’s a lifestyle.”