By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
After 38 years in the floor covering business, Dave Esterline decided the time was right take on antiques and collectibles.
Esterline and his wife Judy own Cornerstone Collectibles at U.S. 20 and Ohio 15 just south of Pioneer. Dave Esterline runs Cornerstone Flooring next door with his brother and two sons.
A mother and son team opened an antique mall about three years ago in the building the Esterlines own, but in June 2015 the pair decided to get out.
“They asked me if would be interested in taking it over,” Esterline said. “My wife and I thought about it for a while and decided to do it.”
The legal work took several months to complete, but the Esterlines were finally ready to open in January. So far there have been no regrets.
“I really like it,” David Esterline said. “I get to meet a lot of interesting people and you get to learn a lot about the past.
“It’s a very interesting and very enjoyable business.”
The location is ideal to draw travelers in and Esterline said he has met shoppers from all over the region, with some people driving from 60-80 miles away as they visit place to place to place.
Running an antique store is a completely new experience for him and his wife. They are learning the ropes. One lesson is that while this may not be an ideal time to start an antique business, opening in January was definitely not the best decision, he said.
That is why the store also offers collectibles to appeal to a wider audience.
“My customers probably know more than I do about it,” Esterline said. “My comfort level is in running the business, not in necessarily antiques.”
He’s noticed a difference between the customers from his floor covering business and the antique and collectible set. The former knows what they want when they come in the door, while the latter they may have nothing in mind.
The business has 10 booths it rents out. Booths go for $68 to $150 a month, Esterline said. The store takes consignments and has 30 consigners, he said.
Some of the merchandise is inventory carried over from the previous owners and there are items the Esterlines have added as well, Dave said.
The business also features a full-service flower shop manned most days by local florist Maureen Horton. She used to work at the antique mall part time and wanted to stay on, Esterline said.
“A lot of people know her as the ‘Flower Lady,’” Esterline said. “We enjoy very much having her.”
Dave and Judy split the work schedule. Dave works three days a week at the floor covering business, with Judy manning the antique store.
Dave takes a break from flooring to spend three days a week at the antique shop. The latter half is a welcome break, he said.
“I’ve always worked six days a week,” Esterline said. “Having three days a week not being on my hands and knees is a lot easier at my age than being over there installing five days a week.
“There probably are more hours involved, but they are easier hours.”
The business is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed Sundays. Saturdays are the store’s busiest day.
For more information, call 419-737-1422 or see their page on Facebook.
In addition to antiques and collectibles, the business also sells silver coins and bouillon. The sidelight is taking off well along with the flower shop, he said.
“People like to buy silver,” Esterline said. “We are competitive in our pricing.”
To celebrate its existence, the business will host a grand opening April 14-16 with special deals throughout the weekend.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com