BEACON PHOTOS/ERIKA WEBB
Empty no more — Early this month, vendors began filling this long-forlorn building at 3520 North U.S. Highway 17 in DeLand with all things vintage. A 30-booth antiques and home-décor market, Pure Vintage, will open there Saturday, Feb. 11.
Filling space — One recent Saturday, Orlando Realtor Keith Scher arranges a vase among other antiques displayed in one of three retail spaces he plans on opening inside Pure Vintage. The emporium for antiques, collectibles and refurbished items is set to open Feb. 11 at 3520 North U.S. Highway 17 near DeLand.
Ready for business — Jeff and Shirley Baratta, owners of Pure Vintage, will display their vintage, antique and other home-décor items in the front of the 30-booth market they plan to open Saturday, Feb. 11.
A long-vacant building north of DeLand is being filled with treasures.
Vendors have begun securing and stocking several of 30 market spaces inside Pure Vintage, a new emporium opening Feb. 11 at 3520 North U.S. Highway 17, just past State Road 15A.
Jeff and Shirley Baratta, of Paisley, have been busily painting and fixing walls, as well as partitioning, with rustic-looking pallets, sections of multiple rooms in the 4,200-square-foot building to create retail spaces in varying sizes.
“It was a mess,” Jeff Baratta said of the expansive — now fresh and brightly lit — building, which was constructed in 1958.
Monthly booth rental prices range from $75 to $250.
In exchange for handling all sales, the Barattas will receive 15 percent of the proceeds.
“We’ll do everything but fill in the space and price the items,” Jeff Baratta said.
On Feb. 4, Keith Scher unloaded an array of interesting pieces and hauled them inside.
Scher will divide his wares between three spaces. Each will be named according to its contents.
“That’s what makes this place neat, the variety,” Scher said.
The Orlando probate Realtor obtains much of his stock from estates.
His “Fantastiques” spot already contains a hand-carved French headboard, crafted in 1914.
“I’m bringing a bed from the 1800s,” Scher said, as he carefully positioned a glass lamp-base night-light ashtray, circa 1967-68. “I’ll have early-20th-century, midcentury modern furniture and a man room.”
He also has several working vintage sewing machines and tables — with cast-iron treadles.
“Mantiques” will feature “new old-stock” items, such as vintage German and Avon beer steins from around 1970, old Coca-Cola memorabilia, limited-edition NASCAR keepsakes, German and American beer signs, and sports collectibles.
Scher also has about 1,000 vinyl records, representing “all genres,” and will have a working record player in the space for sound sampling.
Vintage dolls, a circa 1949 wicker baby carriage, a highchair made in the late 1950s or early 1960s that converts to a play area, a handcrafted doll highchair and much more will fill Scher’s third spot, “Remember When Toys.”
The former superintendent of renovations and design for Ocean Resorts has a keen eye for extraordinary objects and a knack for arranging bric-a-brac.
“I do this for the fun of it,” Scher said. “I’m a lot smarter than I look, thank God.”
As Scher set up, a couple stopped to inquire about booth rentals.
“There’s been quite a bit of interest,” Jeff Baratta said, adding that about half of the spaces have been reserved.
The Barattas have sold furniture, home décor and other items — also from estate sales and auctions — around Central Florida for years.
“When I have time, I like to get creative and make stuff,” Jeff Baratta said.
He anticipates most vendors will have similarly themed booths containing refurbished items, antiques and a number of midcentury pieces.
“This is kind of a new market for a big store like this,” Baratta said. “There are a few places Downtown, but this is outside of town. DeLand’s a pretty good shopping area.”
- Erika Webb, erika@beacononlinenews.com