Call them pack-rats, or collectors, refined enthusiasts or hoarders, historical aficionados or antique addicts…
However you frame it, one thing that becomes clear if you visit with local antique shop proprietors Sondra Garcia and son Scott Garcia is that those who get bit by the antique-collecting, deal-hunting, treasure-finding bug are likely to end up needing extra space to put all their trinkets, gizmos, historical artifacts and fancy decorations.
“I don’t think it’s a sickness you get rid of too easy,” said Scott Garcia, who himself has a particular interest in fishing-related antique items, “When I pick up fishing stuff, it hardly ever makes it to the floor because Scott grabs it first,” said Sondra. While she did mention a particular affinity for “pink Depression glass” (which apart from one pitcher was notably absent from the store) her interest now lies in the thrill of purchasing items, getting great deals, and discovering rare and valuable items following at-home research. “We research everything because we don’t know what prices are unless we’ve bought and sold them before. So we do a lot of online research,” said Sondra.
While rare items are obviously not found on a regular basis, treasures can work their way into the store in unexpected places. For example, a recently acquired Beatles vinyl record turned out to be worth significantly more than average vinyls sold in the store (about $3/per album) due to a specific printing variation. “It’s highly sought after because they didn’t print that many like this,” Scott said, noting the record could fetch up to $150 in the right venues, particularly online sales.
While the Garcias now enjoy the process of collecting, curating, researching and adding to their personal collections through the store, the road to get there wasn’t without challenges and setbacks. After purchasing the business in 2011, the family spent a year and a half demolishing, renovating and remodeling to meet satisfactory standards in a building that had more than 100 years of use. “It was just, you know, on its last legs,” Sondra said. From extensive structural repairs like a foundation replacement to replacing all the walls due to lack of insulation, the Garcias practically rebuilt the location that now serves as the home of Restored Grace. “Windows, drywall, plumbing, electrical. I mean, it was pretty much the outer shell,” said Scott.
That restoration created a location that now houses items of all kinds, including both antique (100 years or older) and vintage (50 years or older) items. The process of bringing the building back to a useful state within a modern context is also a larger representative example of the antiques discovery, purchasing, pricing and resale process. “It’s time-consuming, you buy one item at an estate sale and bring it in and clean it — they’re always filthy,” noted Sondra, contrasting that “labor-of-love” aspect with the satisfaction and utility realized by reviving something that would have otherwise been forgotten. “We restore furniture, bring things back to life, instead of them going to the landfill,” she said. The restoration component also reiterated Sondra’s love of a particular aspect of the antique world–getting deals. “When you start buying then it’s kind of an addiction. You’re always looking for the next good thing or a bargain or something you can restore,” she said.
Popular items in the store are generally seasonal, selling quickly and predictably, according to the Garcias. Old “primitives” like butter churns, farm implements and certain kitchen tools are also sought after, depending on the interest, collection propensity, or price limitations of the buyer. Cast-iron items are often sought-after due to their quality compared to newly manufactured items in the same price range. They even learned a unique process to clean, restore and re-season cast iron items, making sure they’re ready for use.
At Restored Grace, LLC, the Garcias showcase the rewarding, albeit addictive nature of antique collecting and restoration. Their journey from renovating a century-old building to curating rare and unique items demonstrates their commitment to preservation and the thrill of the hunt. The store serves as a hub for local history and craftsmanship, reflecting the Garcias’ passion for reviving forgotten treasures and offering them a new life in the hands of appreciative collectors.
Restored Grace, LLC is at 272 Market St. in Meeker, Colorado, and open for perusal from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Meeker’s antique store, owned and operated by the Garcia family, is celebrating a decade of business this year. Restored Grace is full of one-of-a-kind treasures. LUCAS TURNER PHOTO
