Volunteers Heart of Local Consignment

Just a block west of a bustling Franklin Avenue stands one of Garden City's many national and state registered historical places, the Garden City Historical Society Museum. The structure, originally St. Mary's Nursery School in 1872, belonged to the Episcopal Diocese. It is now home to the many artifacts and antiques preserving the village's history. Tucked neatly in the lower level of the museum is where you'll find the A.T. Stewart Exchange consignment shop.

The consignment shop originally existed on Seventh Street but was shut down when its building was sold. Local resident Kris Harder took action to ensure the shop survived. In 2007, with local support and hard work of many people in the community, it was relocated to its current home at the Historical Society Museum on Eleventh Street.   

There are more than six consistent volunteers; several have been with The Exchange since its original Seventh Street location. Most are residents of Garden City, but some come from neighboring places like Roslyn and as far away as Kew Gardens. With the dedication and hard work of these volunteers, the shop easily serves more than 350 consignors with displayed items like porcelain dolls, oil paintings and chests of drawers, and always with the capacity to accept more.

The Exchange's assistant director, Jill Mayer, said, "This is consignment. People can bring their things, they want to sell it and make some money and they all seem to be very happy." A consignor will make 50 percent of the total sale, while the remaining 50 percent supports the mission of the Garden City Historical Society to preserve and restore the museum.

Harder, the consignment shop's director, said, "It's the only one in town, the only one in the area, actually, a nice, good consignment shop."

The A.T. Stewart Exchange and Historical Society Museum are most frequented between Thanksgiving and New Year's when people are traveling in and out of town. A steady trickle of hopeful customers like Garden City resident Vilma Sceusa is common on any winter weekday, each greeted warmly, like an expected guest.

"We noticed a little slow down but we've had a very good Christmas," said Harder. Purchase holds and watch lists are some of the personalized services this gracious staff provides. Pattern preferences or collection matches are sometimes noted for regular customers who enjoy the courtesy notification of such item's arrival on consignment. Some items are sold on the same day they are consigned; others remain on the shelf until the precise buyer arrives.

"The exciting things go right out the door, they go out so fast you haven't got time to fall in love with it," said Mayer. "We love the pretty crystal that comes in, the sterling silver and beautiful china, things like that are very exciting."

The Exchange will be hosting its fourth annual flea market on the first weekend in June.  The Historical Society Museum is available for tours during the same business hours as the A.T. Stewart Exchange: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. Access is only available through the consignment shop's rear, lower entrance at 109 Eleventh Street. For more information, visit http://gardencityhistoricalsociety.org or call (516) 746-8900.