Antique Co-op replaces Sudzeez laundromat
Nov 05 2008
POULSBO — It’s not a laundromat like the age-old Sudzeez sign above it reads, but Poulsbo’s new Antique Coop has loads of treasures and personality.
Located just off Highway 305, the store is sectioned into neat room-like nooks, showcasing antique items brought in from multiple vendors. The place is clean, brightly lit and unlike many antique stores, doesn’t smell like mothballs.
“If you look, each section has a little different quality. Each is like a little store into itself,” said the owners, Barb Nutt and Ginger Phillips, who aren’t new to Poulsbo or the antique business.
“We both had a booth downtown and decided we needed to expand,” Phillips said. “We have more of a relaxed business sense and are people persons. ... This should be a fun business.”
Nutt, who hails originally from Albuquerque, N.M., had previous antique stores in Rio Rancho.
She said she knows the value of cooperating with the other area antique stores, including at least four already established in Poulsbo.
“We know working with the stores is way better than competing against them,” Nutt said. “It’s a way we can bring people to Poulsbo looking for a focal point in antiques.”
The ladies pride themselves on having a clean, bright store, which prevents it from looking like a junk shop.
“This is the best new shop in town; it truly is,” said Sondra Dyer, who has traveled from south Seattle to Poulsbo for the past 25 years in her antiquing ventures. “Poulsbo is the premium place for antiques; it’s a great place to buy and sell.”
Pointing to a yellow, floral print table and chair set, Phillips said she remembers her family’s kitchen looking like that as part of the baby boom era.
“Having decor in an antique store is a wonderful thing,” Phillips said. “We want people to walk through here and get decorating ideas. We want them to take their time and see things they had as a child. It’s a walk down memory lane for most of us.”
Everything in the store is set up to spark ideas and possible room designs.
“With the way things are displayed or with a quick suggestion, something suddenly becomes an idea,” Phillips said.
The women also offer estate coordination for deceased loved ones and downsizing advice for those looking to get rid of clutter and too much houseware.
“People have emotional attachment to so many things and it’s hard for them to let go,” Nutt said. “We help show them what isn’t necessary and price things according to their value. You’d be surprised, when people hold garage or estate sales, they have it priced so they are practically giving everything away.”
The Antique Co-op is located at 18763 State Highway 305, Suite A in Poulsbo.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
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