On the Road with Contributing Editor Elizabeth Young: Antique Village Mechanicsville, VA
The Antique Village located in historic Hanover County just north of
Richmond, Virginia offers 10,000 square feet filled with booths,
showcases and independent shops. Approximately 50
dealers provide a spectacular variety of paper ephemera, glassware,
jewelry, primitives, Civil War memorabilia, advertising
store stock, toys, vintage clothing, furniture and more.
38th anniversary this year. It was the first multi dealer antique
mall in Central Virginia. Three dealers have been with the mall since 1977
including John Whiting of Whiting's Old Paper. The original owner
sold the mall in 1980 to a couple who now lease the mall to Joe Lipscombe, a
dealer and the mall's manager. The building is well lit and
offers a rest area for weary shoppers complete with vending machines,
a water cooler and hot coffee.
Packed full of everything paper related, Whiting's is known as "the oldest,
largest and most complete paper memorabilia store in Central Virginia." It
definitely lives up to that title. Whiting originally taught college level
history when he started collecting picture postcards but the seeds were planted
in early childhood. His sister Suzanne says, "Your shop is like a giant
version of your bedroom from when you were a child." In 1976, Whiting
opened his paper business originally setting up at shows. After
awhile, he realized he needed a more permanent location and opened his shop in
the Antique Village.
Shoppers will be amazed at the variety he
stocks. Vintage magazines, post cards, posters, catalogues, trade cards,
newspapers, advertising, labels, books, photographs and greeting cards are just
a few of the many items overflowing his shelves. Set decorators have often
called Whiting's in search of old letters, receipts and magazines for regional
as well as Hollywood movies. Several 1950s magazines and
scientific journals were purchased by a set decorator for the
movie A Beautiful Mind. Whiting states that he is "as eclectic
as his shop and once a collector always a collector."
cards. Another dealer, Sylvia Regelson, has the best African
arts collection in the area as well as collectible art pottery.
VA 23116 (U.S. Rte. 301- 4 mi North of I-295)
10-6, Sunday 12-6, Closed Wednesday
annual anniversary weekend sale every November including a pancake brunch and visiting dealers set up outside the building. The
mall also hosts a Patrick Henry Birthday weekend in May with sales, a pancake breakfast, outdoor
vendors and a band. Several dealers have also conducted Antiques Appraisal Fairs
to benefit local non-
groups.
Elizabeth Young
is a wife and cat mom who spends many an hour hunting for vintage
goodies at her favorite thrift stores, antique shops and monthly flea
markets! A collector of vintage toys, holiday decor and general store
items, many of the found treasures end up on display in her Victorian
home. She also looks for vintage ephemera, fun supplies and kitschy
decor for her Etsy shop Grandmother's Attic ! When not doing this, she works two part time jobs, wearing different hats at each!
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sounds like a fabulous place…
I’m loving all of those old portraits. I’d like to fill a wall with some of those mysterious strangers.
I love Antique Village; it really does have a ton of stuff. Old Whiting’s Paper is probably the best little shop there, but everything else from victorian to mid-century is there. I’ve collected a lot of victorian poison bottles there, and I have a blast every time I go.
Wow, I never knew about this place! Thanks for sharing this info…I’ll have to go one day soon!!! 🙂