I have been fascinated by this antique store, the inn next door and the tiny little hamlet where they live for years now. I would drive by, on the way to the grocery, and slow down to stare at the other man's junk and see what I might treasure. I finally went in this past December and fell even more in love with this funky and fun old place. It smelled like my grandmother's basement and looked like the inside of a time capsule. I wanted to while away the hours scrolling through old record albums, trying on necklaces like a kid playing dress-up and simply playing "I Spy" something awesome. I had to be fast so vowed to return and I did just that, this February. This time my 6 year old and I both left with some "goodies", including a bag of Valentine chocolates from the very easy going owner.
This store, Chipped, Tarnished and Torn, not only contains history in it's items but also it's walls. The store has been standing proud since 1830 when it served as the mercantile, hardware and supply center for the area. A post office and gas station were added later and for years the building contained the town's grocery store, Bryant's, before it moved to a much larger and more modern building. The neighboring home and the store were built together and began when this section of road was travelled by farmers bringing their goods to market. The home and its outbuildings now are part of the Van Winkle Inn. The inn is decorated and rebuilt to reflect the Georgian Era that it is original to but with modern conveniences. The owners offer a delicious home cooked breakfast, warm hospitality and a front porch to relax on. They also have an alpaca farm that you can visit. Ski resorts are close in winter and hiking, fishing and other summer pursuits make this spot great all year round. This tiny little historic corner of New York also offers an art gallery, Currier & Ives style homes, a babbling brook, an Italian restaurant and yoga and fencing lessons at the refurbished gristmill. Just driving past the store is enough to make me smile but stopping in makes my whole day happy!!