Amazing Grace's Antiques Honors Late Father, Husband

It was a devastating loss that prompted mother-and-daughter team Kathleen Sarver and Leah Hampton to stop talking about starting a business and open one.

When Dr. Harold Sarver, Kathleen’s husband and Leah’s father, died unexpectedly late last November, they decided life was short. “I told Leah, ‘This is it, we are going to do this,'” said Sarver.

Less than two months after Dr. Sarver’s death, the women opened their Richland Township store, Amazing Grace’s Antiques. The two bill the Perrotte Plaza shop on Route 8 as “An Antique & Vintage Chic Boutique.”

Sarver had actually been in the antique business for years, having a booth at a shop in Wexford. When she and Hampton would talk about opening a shop, it was often Dr. Sarver who would discourage the idea.

“He loved to travel and she didn’t,” Hampton said of her parents. “He was afraid if we had a shop, she would use it as an excuse to stop traveling.”

It was right after Thanksgiving of last year when Hampton had hosted an early family dinner that included her brother who was visiting from Erie. Hampton had to go to work so the Sarvers kept her four children for an afternoon visit. While playing with the children, Dr. Sarver collapsed.

“My daughter called me to say that Papa wasn’t moving and I told her to run next door to get the neighbor who is a nurse,” said Hampton. Unfortunately, nothing could be done.

Dr. Sarver was a well-known community member in Hampton Township where both women live. A teacher and principal when he retired, he also served as the president of the school board. Hundreds attended his memorial service in early December that was held at the Hampton Middle School.

It was shortly after Dr. Sarver’s death that Mrs. Sarver told her daughter they were going to open their own shop and the two found the location on Route 8 in Richland.  Naming the shop was easy, said Hampton.

“As soon as Mom told me what she wanted to do, I told her, ‘I have the name – Amazing Grace’s’.”

Hampton said "Amazing Grace" was her father’s favorite hymn. A deeply religious man, he would always sing the song, often to the embarrassment of his children and grandchildren. “He was a horrible singer and he would sing it really loud in church,” laughed Hampton.

Sarver moved the antiques from the Wexford shop and soon the two were filling the rooms of their shop in Richland. Hampton quit her part-time job as a nurse and helped her mother find more items to stock their store.

Walking through the shop, the women point out the rooms – there is the Study, the Office, the Shabby Chic room with some vintage clothing and an eclectic mixture of things, the Parlor, an office and the Kitchen.

The women find their wares in a variety of places including estate sales, garage sales, private sales and customers. “Someone comes in with things to sell or they are looking for a particular item, so we go and look for it,” said Sarver.

Sarver said she grew up with antiques since she lived with her grandparents as a child. Now in her 70s, she jokes she remembers when today’s antiques were new to her as a child.

After years of being in the antique business, Sarver said she knows what her customers will pay for items. “People will ask me what something is worth and I tell them it is worth whatever you can sell it for,” she said.

In their shop is a variety of furniture, household items including books, houseware, dishes, decorative items and some clothing. They also carry bracelets made by Hampton.

Since Dr. Sarver was so much a part of the community of Hampton, when his daughter met a man whose last name was Hampton, Dr. Sarver joked with her that she had to marry him. She did and the two had four children, Kayla, 15, Ronnie, 8, and 5-year-old twins, Cloe and Bella.

"It was so funny," said Kathleen Sarver. "We told her, 'This will be the boy you marry. You have to with the last name of Hampton.''

The four children often visit the store to “help” their mother and grandmother.

As the two talk of the late Dr. Sarver, it is with tears and joy.

“I know he is happy that we are doing this. We really miss him, but he had so much faith,” said Hampton, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I know that he is happy we are together doing this in his honor.”

“Plus we love it,” said her mother. “It keeps us busy and we love working with our customers.”

Amazing Grace’s Antiques is located at 5363 Route 8, Richland Township. Visit www.amazinggracesantiques.com or 412-719-7654 for more information.