Vintage Store's Success Prompts Expansion

If you're the type of person who likes to hunt for unique treasures at vintage shops, you'll be happy to know that there will soon be an extra 2,500 sq. feet to peruse through at a popular Palm Harbor store.

Antiques and Uniques of Ozona will be celebrating the Grand Opening of its newly expanded store on March 17. Owners Kym Eggers and Laura Cheek decided to add additional space when they realized there was a demand for it. The store leases spaces to dealers who sell collectibles and antiques. Some of of the dealers used to sell at Dunedin's Knot in Main Street and moved to Antiques and Uniques after the . 

"We figured that when the Knot reopened, a lot of them would go back, but they didn't. So, we were completely out of space. This gave us a spot to fill our waiting list and to put in our own stuff," said Eggers, who also sells collectibles.

The women also own the original Antiques and Uniques store on Alt. U.S. 19, which is still open. They were pleasantly surprised at how many customers visit the store's second location in the quiet Palm Harbor community of Ozona. 

"We were worried about it because it is off the main road, but the community here is so supportive, it's been very very good. There's a lot of traffic through here. The marinas are here, the restaurants are here. We consistently have traffic, even more so than our Alt, 19 location," said Cheek.

It is easy to spend hours looking at the collectibles inside the store's many rooms. Eggers says Antiques and Uniques has a lot to offer and attracts a wide variety of customers; from brides with vintage wedding themes, to young hipsters looking for vintage furniture and decor for their homes, to winter residents who relive childhood memories during their visits.

"There's a little bit of everything. We have over 60 dealers and it changes constantly. We have customers that come in every single week because they know it's different and the prices are so reasonable," she said.

The Antiques and Uniques Grand Opening is Saturday, March 17. Dealers will be onhand to talk about the pieces they are selling. Refreshments and hot dogs will also be available. 

Antiques and Uniques is located at 303 Orange St. in Ozona (727) 253-4976. Open Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm.