Everything Old is New Again at Consignment Shop

When a friend brought Linda Pelc to an antiques and collectibles consignment shop more than 15 year ago, her instant reaction was, "Wow, what an idea!"

Pelc's mother was a high-end antiques dealer who often took her daughter to auctions, so the former English teacher was an experienced and enthusiastic collector herself. She knew of a storefront at 11-16 Saddle River Road in Fair Lawn that had been vacant for months. After clearing out many of her own possessions and coaxing acquaintances into parting with their stuff, Pelc soon opened the Treasure Trove for business.

The store's wares hold mystery or history, and sometimes both.  Customers have no guilt about parting with an object that has no significance for them, even if it is a family heirloom. Prominently displayed on the selling floor was an ornate Carnival glass bowl from the Depression era which had belonged to the owner's grandmother. 

Often people simply get bored with their treasures, said Pelc. One customer decided to sell her entire collection of porcelain shoes, enough to fill up a huge shelf.  And there is that occasional Antiques Roadshow moment when someone shows up with what he or she thinks is junk, and it turns out to have considerable value.

"Once a  lady walked in with a bag of jewelry that she poo-poohed," Pelc recalled. The woman thought that the items were worth a couple of dollars, but after inspecting the jewelry, Pelc realized that the estimate was more likely in the thousands.

Original art is often brought to an auction house like Southeby's or Christie's for an appraisal; Pelc has sold several paintings that proved to have authentic quality. But many of her incredible finds are often unearthed at estate sales.

Once Pelc was responsible for a sizeable Rutherford estate that had been left by a 104 year-old bachelor. His home's dusty attic, untouched for over seven decades, was filled with beautiful antique furniture. "He was an avid fisherman," she said,  "who left over 700 fishing roads, 1,200 reels, and boxes of fishing lures."

The Treasure Trove's consignment policy is a friendly one. Sellers receive 50 percent of the price of their items once a sale has been made. If merchandise remains unsold after three months, the seller has the option to reclaim it, keep it in the shop, or donate it to a shelter for either battered women or animal rescue. 

If an item is purchased months after it's been consigned, Pelc said, "the seller will receive a check even if she's moved to Duluth." 

A combination of word-of-mouth publicity and newspaper advertising keeps  customers coming in to check out the colorful array of china, silver, glass, jewelry, artwork, furniture, and unusual antiques and collectibles. Right now the hottest category is fine jewelry, as many shoppers have learned to prefer the real thing over vintage reproductions.

While Pelc finds herself to be a popular supplier for antique dealers as well as the go-to person for estate and moving sales, her most loyal customers are those who are in search of the perfect gift. Many of her regulars do their holiday shopping at Treasure Trove. 

"We're having our big fall sale right now," Pelc said. "So nearly every ticketed price is reduced  by 20 to 40 percent."

A quick glance around Treasure Trove will reveal a traditional item like a pressed glass vase not far from a quirky one, such as a doll of Elizabeth Taylor as she appears in her Oscar-winning role in "Butterfield 8." Shopping here requires unhurried browsing if customers are to make delightful discoveries.

Treasure Trove is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 201-796-8222 for  directions.