Leonards: Giving Antiques a Second Look

Leonards on Route 44 has been providing Seekonk with a mix of antiques and innovative renovations for decades. The square sign that hangs above the side of the road is a staple many drivers don't give a second-glance to. But the tale of the shop's history is almost as intriguing as the items it collects.

Built on Route 44 to catch traffic bound for Cape Cod, Lester and Hazel Leonard capitalized on a niche market in 1933. The shop catered to the summer vacation crowd; the couple focused on selling antique beds.

"Many homes have multiple beds," said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Lois MacDonald.

The Leonards sold their property to Robert Jenkins in 1975 and it has remained within the family ever since. Now owned by Jenkins' son Jeff for 23 years, Leonards has expanded their market to include international clientele. 

MacDonald emphasized the relevance of antiques for the younger demographic. Popular furniture stores have absorbed the market, setting antiques on the back burner.

"Part of it is an effective marketing campaign by Crate & Barrel and Ikea - these stores that make [modern furniture] very appealing. Take a moment and look at an antique," MacDonald said.

Not only is buying antiques a greener option, but the economic recession has given rise to a resurgence in consignment, a trend that Leonards has incorporated into their business. Now any antique owner has the same profitable opportunity as pickers who make their money by finding and sourcing antiques.

Many antiques are competitively priced: MacDonald described a recent entertainment center that sold for $2,500 instead of its original ticket price of $25,000. Having been a customer for many years, MacDonald's own home has a modern motif though she does like mixing it up.

"I like the mixture of electronics and antiques," she said.

The Leonards built the property and the Jenkins added a wood shop where pieces are restored and replicated. 

Antiques tend to be unique pieces made in unorthodox sizes, and the older the pieces become, the more difficult it is to replace or repair them. Reproduction is another trend that branched Leonards' variety of business out even further.

Any bed, desk, linen press, six-drawer Chipendale style chest can be reproduced to fashion each customer's exact preferences. 

Beds, what the business knows best, are most popularly reproduced and custom made.

Customers can choose their style of bedpost, which type of wood they would like it in, and what size bed they would like build with them.

Leonards has been going with the flow of furniture trends through their history. Many linen presses that were once refitted for entertainment centers are now being used for their original purpose now that flat screens televisions have taken the place of their bulkier predecessors - though there are still those traditionalists who hold tenaciously to their time period styles.

Regardless of their buying history or knowledge of history, there is still a constant flow of traffic through the showrooms. The interior of the property is meticulously arranged with the whimsical and opulent. But even though the store has been famed for its curiosities for years, the owners still gets visits from locals who finally get the gusto to step in after years of hesitance. 

And after they walk in some say, "I've driven past this place for 20 years and I've finally decided to stop by."