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By Wendy Migdal | Photography by Mark Gilvey
Why do people go antiquing? There are probably as many reasons as there are antique stores in the Prince William area. Some people have specialized collections, and for them, it’s the thrill of the hunt. Others enjoy being surprised by finding one-of-a-kind items, the thrill of discovery. Some are searching for valuable items to either own or resell, while others just like the home-decorating aesthetic.
Regardless, there’s generally something deeper going on in patrons of vintage and antique stores. Most people enjoy feeling some kind of connection to the past. It may be personal—finding the dishes grandma used. Or it may be holding a piece of history, such as a table that appears in old photographs or movies and is still here long after the people who used it have passed on. Others long for quality and delight in well-made objects, items from the time before globalization and the proliferation of plastic, when things were produced in the United States and made to last.
Spotlight on Local Antique Stores
Local store owners agree. Gary Hale, owner of Iron Horse Antiques in Manassas, says, “I’ve always been drawn to pieces with character, furniture with original finishes, old advertising signs, anything that tells a story.” And they try to convey that at their stores. Paul Wetmore, retired naval officer and owner of Man Overboard in Occoquan, says, “Each item, carefully displayed, tells a unique story, transporting visitors back in time upon entering.”
To the uninitiated, many antique and vintage stores have a similar look to them. But just like the items they contain, each one is different from the next. First, let’s define some terms. To truly qualify for the label antique, an item should be at least 100 years old. The word vintage is often used to describe anything that is generally between 15 and 99 years old. Most stores sell both, and many offer new, handmade items as well.
Some antique stores operate on the co-op model, where small dealers rent a space, bring their items, and the stores keeps track of the sales for them. Others are a one-person enterprise. Both have advantages; with the co-op model, a shopper can find stores-within-a-store, such as one that specializes in vintage
kitchen equipment while another sells baseball cards and collectibles. Iron Horse Antiques uses a hybrid model, with owner Gary Hale going on buying trips throughout Virginia and beyond, while a network of seasoned dealers helps keep the shelves filled with unique finds.
With the one-person model, the store may specialize in related items. For example, Man Overboard carries pin-ups, brewery items, gas and oil antiques, military paraphernalia, posters, an extensive collection of vintage signs, hats, clothing, barware, and man cave items. Owner Paul Wetmore travels to the Northeast
and overseas, including Greece, Crete, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Glory Be is known for antique furniture (especially American made) and vintage and handmade seasonal home decor, gifts, candles, china, glassware, and specialty items, such as Polish pottery.
An antique sewing machine
In addition, a store tends to take on a special character that often reflects its owners. Traci of Glory Be says, “Throughout the store, we display our decor items as you may find them in a home, and customers often comment that they enjoy coming in to get ideas for ways to combine their new and vintage treasures. They
love the welcoming and cozy feel of Glory Be, and we love that everyone just seems to enjoy being here. Many of us think of it as our ‘happy place!’”
Glory Be’s unique merchandise includes handmade folk art produced by its original owner, Marla, and items from other artists as well.
Man Overboard treats its patrons to the warm glow of vintage lamps for a nostalgic feel, and its vintage sign collection is arranged in eye-catching displays. Wetmore emphasizes its services, saying, “We provide fair prices for unwanted old beer cans and brewery collectibles. Our expert team professionally assesses item values and ensures desirable deals for sellers. What distinguishes Man Overboard is our commitment to a unique shopping experience. Our knowledgeable staff shares anecdotes and stories about the items, guiding both seasoned collectors and novices through the world of antiques.
Iron Horse Antiques
Iron Horse has a few unique features as well: the vintage train that circles the shop’s interior, a nod to Manassas’s Civil War history and the steam locomotives that played a vital role during that time, and the fresh-baked bread it sells, reminding customers of grandma’s house in an olfactory way as a well as a visual one. Hale says, “Visitors often say stepping inside feels like traveling back in time, with each corner offering something unexpected.”
The Story Behind the Stores
For most antique store owners, the store is culmination of years, or even a life-long interest in the material goods of the past. Gary Hale traveled past the two-story 1945 building, the outskirts of Historic Manassas for years until his dream of owning an antique store became a reality in 1996. He befriended the owner, Roy Doggett, and when the previous tenant, a carpet business, closed down, Hale began renovating and traveling north to auctions to purchase stock. He also purchased the inventory of J. E. Rice Company, and with the help of people who became loyal employees, began locating dealers for the upstairs.
Glory Be Antiques
Marla is the original owner of Glory Be and has been a folk artist and creator of home décor for decades. With a husband in the military and the frequent travel that accompanied that life, her career as an entrepreneur began as a craft show vendor.
Once her husband retired from the military, Marla settled into a permanent store location. When the property on Mill Street with its great front porch and bay windows came available early in 2004, Marla said, “It had my name written all over it and I had to have it!” She chose the name for the store after receiving
a great deal of support from family and friends who assisted her as she experienced major health problems during this time. In 2019, Traci, a former Marine, took over the business. Traci says, “I grew up going to auctions with my parents and have always been drawn to the ‘thrill of the hunt’ when it comes to finding
special treasures.”
A Halloween display at Glory Be Antiques
Although Paul Wetmore of Man Overboard started his business as something to do in retirement, his antiquing really goes back to age 12 when he began collecting beer cans and brewery items, very popular in the 1970s. He went to the beer can collector swap meets, flea markets, yard sales, auctions, and various events searching for treasures. He says his father taught him the value of working hard to earn money to get the items he wanted, and so he did whatever a young kid could do to earn some pocket money. He mowed lawns, raked leaves, walked dogs, shoveled snow, delivered newspapers, and sold programs in the stands for football and basketball games at Notre Dame University. The store has been in Historic Occoquan since 2014.
Ideas and Inspiration
Antiques and vintage items are trending in home décor this year. If you’ve never considered antiques, take a look online for some inspiration. Most people prefer a blend of the old and new, mixing old-world craftsmanship with modern designs rather than emulating one particular era. Popular items include rattan,
cane, and bamboo furniture, bold pieces from the 1970s, and the geometric look from the Art Deco period. Any piece of solid wood furniture with beautiful joinery is sought after. Steamer and other trunks can do double duty as side or coffee tables, as can old, stacked, hard-sided suitcases.
Glassware and barware as well as trolleys to display them are popular items that can also be put into service. Vintage kitchen items, such as rolling pins, wooden cutting boards, and canisters can also be either
useful or decorative. Vintage bottles with the original manufacturer’s logo make for interesting vases, or put a bar pour spout in one and use it for your dish soap.
Antique and vintage stores can also be good sources for decorative items that are unique and may cost you more when purchased new. For example, you might find an oil painting, an urn or hand-thrown pottery item, an old mirror, or an old window that could be repurposed into a frame of some kind. Using something for a purpose other than its intended one is a great way to make a statement. This can be very effective in an outdoor space.
If you’re interested in a little DIY, the possibilities are endless. The array of paints and stains available for furniture is staggering these days. Check out videos online from furniture flippers—people who find old furniture and refinish, repaint, or restore it, and then resell their pieces for profits in the hundreds. DIY isn’t
limited to furniture and paint, either. One unusual idea that has been spotted is to cut hardback books into large letters using a jigsaw. A simpler idea is to glue wooden spools to a long piece of wood and mount on a wall to hang items, such as jewelry. For any item of particular interest to you, an online search will likely reveal dozens of ideas for decorating and repurposing.
With the holidays and gift-giving approaching, you may want to consider buying a loved one a vintage or antique gift that has special meaning. Or just stroll through a store to take a break from the modern, glossy newness of life today, and instead see and feel objects that connect us to our past.
Glory Be
305 Mill Street, Occoquan | 703-490-1441 | Glorybehome.com
Iron Horse Antiques
9200 Prescott Avenue, Manassas | 703-335-6676 | Ironhorseantiquesva.com
Man Overboard
310 Mill Street, Suite C, Occoquan | 703-855-7315 | Manoverboardusa.com
Wendy Migdal is a contributing writer for Prince William Living.
