Garage sales antiques-An oxymoron

Tina Snell
HometownSource.com
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Read from the Source

There is a quasi-new antique store in the Lincoln Lakes Area.

Garage Sale Antiques used to reside in the small garage adjoining Arnie Oldenburg's business, AOK Engines, on Highway 10. Arnie's wife Kathy, a long-time lover of antiques, opened the shop in 2005, but soon needed more space. There were other dealers from as far away as Detroit Lakes begging to rent space from her to sell their wares. She and Arnie then built a 40 by 80 foot building next to AOK Engines and Kathy, along with 15 other dealers, moved in this past summer.

The term "garage sale" gives the impression the buyer will pay a good price. The word "antique" does the opposite. It gives the buyer the idea they may pay dearly for an item. But Oldenburg and her dealers seem to be able to blend the two very well. The products available at Garage Sale Antiques are moderately priced, in good condition and the variety is wide.

Kathy began this business with her friend Linda Michurski because, as she put it, "I love antiques. Also, Arnie and I are very close and we need to interact often during the day. I doesn't make sense that we work miles apart. When we lived in Belle Plaine, we had the same situation. I was at home with the kids and he had his machine shop behind the house. We just have a hard time being away from each other for long periods of time."

The decor of Garage Sale Antiques is very "up north." The walls are knotty pine with old-time local advertising signs spaced sporadically. The dealers are individualized; some carry glassware, while others have dolls, furniture, books, pottery, toys, sports and hunting items, and so much more.

Oldenburg is always thinking of new ways to attract customers and apply her unique talents to her business. She loves flower arranging, so she picks up items that she can use to display her many plants that she keeps in a small greenhouse next to the antique shop.

She sells these arrangements to her customers.

"One woman even brought back the container she bought from me this summer that had flowers in it," said Oldenburg. "She asked if I could fill it again with plants for next year."

Future plans for the Oldenburgs include selling their home on Lake Alexander and building a house next to the two businesses. The two feel it would be easier on both of them and more economical.

Kathy has toyed with the idea of expanding the antique shop already because more dealers are asking for space.

"I do and don't want to expand," explained Oldenburg. "I don't want this to become stressful. I like the dealers I have now and the number seems to work. Time will tell."