Fancher welcomes new business in old train depot

Photos by Sue Cook – June Chippendale stands in front of an Americana display inside her store Antiques & Rusty Relics.

By Sue Cook, staff reporter

FANCHER – A lover of antiques has turned a former train depot in Fancher into the home for a new business, Antiques & Rusty Relics.

June Chippendale loves the location, just north of the curve on Route 31, between Holley and Albion. She likes to hear the rumble and whistle of trains as they pass by at Route 387.

“We had two trains go by today! It was so exciting!” Chippendale exclaimed on Friday.

Chippendale and her husband Ken had originally wanted to set up shop in Caledonia. Ken’s job transferred him to the area, but without a space available for rent, they began to search elsewhere. After looking through Craigslist, they found the old train depot space, which had formerly been the Big Ash showroom.

“I told my husband, ‘I can do this. We can have a store,’” she said.

The train depot is a familiar site to anyone passing through Fancher. The store plans to use the porch in the summer for seating during events.

Chippendale said her love of antiques was brought on by her children. When they each moved out of their college apartments, they would return home with furniture and store it in the family’s barn. Chippendale found that the space was filling quickly and didn’t want to hold a garage sale for all the items. Instead she approached a co-op that allowed her to set up and sell her unneeded items. After working with other co-ops, she eventually decided to make the move to her own store.

Chippendale obtained the space on Feb. 1, and began updating the building to fit her needs. She is proud to say she used many reused items – repurposed counters from a closed flower shop and other repurposed equipment – in the store.

“I love this place,” Chippendale stated. “It has great karma. It’s a warm, happy place. We love antiques. We love this train depot atmosphere.”

The store opened on March 1 and will celebrate a grand opening on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The event will include mulled apple cider, other refreshments, and some giveaways during the day.

Chippendale suggests making plenty of time to go through the store’s multiple rooms to get a good look at all of the merchandise.

Chippendale’s store holds her own items as well as those of four other antiques vendors. Items include antiques, retired Longaberger basket designs, quality furniture and more.

“I’ve known June for 30 years,” said vendor Diane Wight. “When I moved up here I collected anything old. Baked enamel was priority one, but I ran out of room.” Wight is selling some of her collection to make room for more space in her home. “Now I’m more into primitive-style items.”

Wight said she has gone with Chippendale to garage sales and auctions in search of collectibles on many occasions. She plans to be a permanent vendor at the store.

“Where can you go to have fun in the past?” she asked. “This is fun.”

Chippendale says that her husband, an avid fan of old hot rods, is planning to have a car-related event in the summer at the store, such as a cruise-in car show. They also plan to have LuGia’s Ice Cream during the hot months.

The store address is 3570 Fancher Rd., Holley. They are open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and other days by appointment. For more information, click here.