Richland Area Chamber/Main Street

The Richland Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Partnership

HOME

HOSPITALITY

EVENTS

MAPS

DIRECTORY

CHAMBER

MAIN STREET

CONTACTS

Featured Business... Return to Featured list

Valley Antique Mall 178 S. Central Avenue, Richland Center Phone: 608-647-3793 Dick Edwards was a practicing family physician; Nancy Edwards was a teaching aid at Jefferson Elementary School, and both were content with that back in the 1980’s. Then Dick and his daughter, Nancy Lou, opened the Montgomery Wards catalog store on Main Street, which Nancy Lou managed. When Montgomery Wards closed their stores, Dick began renting parts of the building out to antique dealers. There were several renters, different owners, and a little bit of turmoil over the years… until finally Dick and Nancy purchased the building on Central Avenue where they are now located.
Several more businesses were juggled in and out of the new location, and then Valley Antique Mall opened on April 1, 1993. But that wasn’t the end of their struggles on the way to having one of the nicest antique dealerships in the area; the worst was yet to come.
	On August 11, 1996, a fire broke out, gutting the store and destroying the antiques within. Dick and Nancy found themselves out of business again. It took more than six months to rebuild the store, and they finally re-opened on April 1, 1997, on the 4th anniversary of their original opening. Things went well for a while, then came 9-11, which affected sales everywhere. Business was slow, but the antique market, as most other markets, has since recovered. Such are the struggles of being a business owner.
One thing that Nancy notes is that rural prices are generally lower for purchasing antiques than the larger metropolitan areas. Many collectors travel to Richland Center to buy their antiques. She attributes 80 percent of her business to tourist trade. During the winter months when tourism travel is down, restocking and restoring work is plentiful.
	She enjoys working with the staff, made up of Joe Johnson, store manager; John Scribbins, Margie Ide, Terry Ziebarth, and Don and Pat Hegg; all of whom are very good at valuing items. Nancy also points out that she discourages displays of flea market items, reproductions, crafts and Beanie Babies at Valley Antique Mall, and reminds dealers that their product is true antiques.
	Merchandise in an antique store is always unique to that store, and even from dealer to dealer in the mall. Nancy says that they have the nicest items they’ve ever had in the store right now.
	Store Hours: 9:30 am to 5 pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat. 10 am to 5 pm - Sundays (Closed Wed during winter.)

The number of dealers varies, with an average of thirty at any one time. Renting on a monthly basis, they have the ability to accommodate many more dealers, depending on the display area needed.

Both Dick and Nancy love the business, the dealers, and the customers, and are someday looking forward to retirement, but with mixed emotions. With that in mind, they have recently listed the building for sale, hoping that it will remain an antique mall under new ownership.

Valley Antique Mall is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street.
They invite you to stop by their store to shop and browse.

How to become a Featured Business | Return to Featured Business index

Richland Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Partnership
397 W. Seminary Street - PO Box 128
Richland Center, WI 53581

Phone: (608) 647-6205 - Toll Free:(800) 422-1318 - Fax: (608) 647-5449
Email: info@richlandchamber.com