Patina, the new shop of vintage decor and upcycled antiques and wares
The coolest small town just can’t stop itself from upping the ante. Lewisburg already has a genuinely eclectic array of family owned small retail businesses going strong downtown. And yet the city now boasts many brand new shops; and perhaps the word isn’t out on them yet, so here’s a little of what has opened recently.
Not brand new is The Front Porch, within a gorgeous old Victorian house at 219 E. Washington Street. It actually opened almost a year ago; but it might be the secret nugget of the shopping available on Washington Street. William Hammann, the manager, explained the boutique as not just an important store as the only men’s clothing specialty shop, it is also home to fine accessories and gifts for the home. I was in the store for five minutes and purchased a one of a kind Moore & Giles field bag. A dream bag come true for a reporter and adventurist like myself. Other brands of significance to men include 7 Diamonds, Beretta, Mountain Khakis and Kuhl. The Front Porch also offers fine furniture, John Medeiros Jewelry, works of original oil paintings, Debrand boxed chocolates and truffles and something for everyone in some category or another. It is a museum in there.
Patina took over a vacant storefront to become a venue with offerings of unique treasures of vintage decor at 117 E. Washington Street. Owners, Tony and Valarie Hinkle, have filled the space with handmade art and jewelry, up-cycled materials and antiques. Everything in the store is one of a kind. Everything in the store is priced affordably to make decorating or collecting seductive for designers and lay shoppers alike.
One of Lewisburg’s must-visit watering holes, and all-around musician gathering places, The Irish Pub, at 102 East Washington Street, has just used their extra space adjacent to the social area within to open the town’s much longed for Bodega. One of the owners of the pub, Patrick O’Flaherty, explained how many of the college kids and downtown residents had been suggesting the need for such a convenience store for a while. It is quaint, yet packed with so many necessities negating a need to run to Walmart. They have batteries, ciggies, milk and bread, snacks, toilet paper and must items in the convenience category. The appreciation and support of the recently opened Bodega affirms its need in downtown.
The newly opened children’s boutique, Love Child, is now in full swing with its generous collective of locally coutured clothing for children of all ages, interactive and fun learning toys and games, and a well executed gift registry and wrapping service for an endless array of lovely things for children. There is also a revolving selection of items for new moms. The store is at 112 Washington Street. Owner, Deva Wagner, says the store has been very well received, and the excitement of designing and opening the store a little more than a month ago has not worn off. Lines of clothing, games and accessories for children will simply keep expanding and evolving as time goes on.
