The Stock Exchange: Re-use, Re-purpose, Re-sale ...

Two 9-foot courtroom benches, similar to church pews and just as impressive had just come in from the estate of a former federal judge. Nearly everyone that came in the shop on a recent Wednesday afternoon admired the find. Those and the scores of other furnishings, antiques and one-of-a-kind bric-a-brac and lots of paintings fill – but by no means clutter – the singular home furnishings consignment shop called, cleverly, Madison Stock Exchange at at 170 Boston Post Road in Madison.

Talk about re-use, this re-sale shop allows people to repurpose stylish, vintage or antique furniture with pieces that range from the eclectic to the traditional with so much in between.

“Our niche is clean, ready to go one-of-a-kind pieces,” said owner Gary Greenstein. He and his wife Cathi, longtime antique aficionados, utilized his retail management experience and artistic sensibility and her “vision” to create the store.

And now, 6 ½ years later, the couple have a successful business that matches a singular quality home furnishing, a consignment or estate item – like a vintage ceramic water pitcher, for example or an antique mirror or perhaps a cameo pin or turn-of-the-century watercolor painting – with a new owner. Gary said the idea is to keep the inventory fresh so they keep prices affordable so they can turn their merchandise over very quickly.

The large, bright and immaculate shop features accent pieces and impressive furniture pieces from a vintage vanity to a massive and stunning glass-door hutch.  Gary said that his inventory includes pieces from “some of the finest homes” in the region and he himself has restored or painted a number of pieces currently for sale in the shop, located on Boston Post Road.

On a recent visit to the store at mid-day and mid-week, the place was buzzing and bustling with shoppers and browsers, a few from out-of-town including New York.

“I can’t believe how your store changes,” a customer told Gary. “It just keeps evolving. I love it.”

The Madison Stock exchange accepts vintage and antique furniture and furnishings including mirrors, artwork, chandeliers, jewelry, crystal, decorative accessories, dinnerware, glassware, and costume jewelry in person at the store or by appointment. Home visits are available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The owners will set the selling price when items are brought in unless there are large quantities which will require time for review and consignments are accepted every day the store is open save for Saturday. The consignment period of 90 days and consigners receive 50 percent of the selling price.