Antiques and Vintage on the Boulevard opens for business

Kate Turner has history with history. For 26 years she has worked in the antique business, operating booths in different venues and running antique shops for other people. Antiques and Vintage on the Boulevard is her first antique storefront.“I had been looking for the right place,” Turner said. “I knew what I wanted.”Although not from the Tecumseh area, Turner was impressed with the ambiance she found downtown. When two storefronts next door to each other became available, Turner knew she found her space.“It was just timing,” she said. “I needed something bigger. The other side really came together once the wall came out.”With some paint and elbow grease, Turner got the store prepared. “Where there’s a will there’s a way,” said Turner.Currently, Antiques and Vintage on the Boulevard has 15 dealers offering antiques and collectibles, as well as Turner’s finds. Her dealers come from Jackson County, Sylvania, Ohio and Adrian.Turner believes the different locations offer a better variety of antique and vintage items for customers. “Everybody has their own quirks,” Turner said.Being located close to Tecumseh Antiques and More and the Hitching Post was a great advantage for Turner to open a shop in Tecumseh. “The more the merrier,” she said. “I’d love to see a few more of us pop up.”Multiple antique stores combined with two wineries and the soon-to-open brewery make Tecumseh a destination for people wanting to spend a day shopping. Relying on drive-by traffic for sales is not effective according to Turner.“You can actually spend the day in Tecumseh. Your walking traffic is very important,” said Turner. “People are curious.”She spends a great deal of time creating appealing displays and even credits the smells in a store for inspiring shoppers to stay, browse and buy.The strong downtown was one of the most important aspects for Turner to locate in Tecumseh. Many small towns, Turner found, have not kept businesses downtown. Instead, shopping is only found in strip malls on the outskirts of small towns and villages.“You’ve got to remember your roots,” Turner said. “I think Tecumseh does, and it shows. The Downtown Development Authority does a wonderful job. This town is so friendly.”Antiques and Vintage on the Boulevard is located at 138-140 E. Chicago Blvd. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.New items are listed on the store’s a Facebook page, Antiques and Vintage on the Boulevard. Turner can be reached at 517.301.4747 or via email at antiqueboulevard-@yahoo.com.