Thistle Patch: Vintage Garden & Antiques Celebrates 7 Years of Success on 14STW in Huntington W.Va.!
Located at 444 14th Street West, Thistle Patch: Vintage Garden & Antiques is home to unique, antique primitive furniture, stoneware, pottery, glassware, ironworks, architectural salvage, and specializes in vintage garden wares. Shop owner, Renee Lewin Williams, says customers always find things for their gardens, and her passion is anything that pertains to the garden such as barns, farmhouses, urns, arbors, iron fencing, plows, planters, seedboxes, lightning rods, and trellises.
For the Anniversary Sale, Williams says everything in the shop will be discounted, but specifically, furniture will be up to 50% off; stoneware, pottery and glassware, tools, dough bowls 30% off; architectural salvage 20% off; the discount room (which is normally 50% off will be 75% off), and any other items in the store will be at least 10% off.
Williams said her biggest success is found in her customers and creating a connection with returning customers.
"I have so many regular customers, which are those that stop in often and make purchases regularly. I also receive so many great compliments about the shop," Williams said. "Many people say it's the best shop on the street as far as selection, presentation, and accessibility. People also appreciate our consistent store hours and friendly staff."
Overcoming Challenges and Defining Successes!
The Thistle Patch staff team is small but mighty. Besides Williams, the shop has three other staff. Two staff members are remote and one is an everyday worker. Williams says she's especially thankful for Suzie, who works in the shop every day that it is open!"Some of the challenges when I first opened pertained to a long-time and unfortunate stigma of the "West End," which I believe has nearly ceased in Huntington. It's still hard to get the local residents to 14th Street West, and most of my customers are from Ohio and Kentucky, but I have seen the number rise of Huntington residents visiting the store over the past seven years," Williams said. "The largest challenge is the fledgling economy and the after effects of the pandemic. The superinflation we are all experiencing in the marketplace inhibits small businesses from being marketable in many industries, but especially retail. Having a disposable income is a thing of the past, so it is challenging for my customers to allocate their funds for home and garden decor. I'm hoping the Anniversary Sale will help Thistle Patch and its customers!"
Building History
Many residents remember Thistle Patch when it was still Hosey's Pharmacy. Williams has found ways to preserve the history of Hosey's while owning and operating her business.
"I am very grateful to be located in a historic building," Williams said. "The Hosey building has such a strong memorable history and the architecture is outstanding... a perfect backdrop for an antique shop! I put a lot of money and sweat into restoring the space to what it looked like when it was a pharmacy long ago."
Thistle Patch History
Thistle Patch opened in late August 2015. Williams said she started the business because her mother and grandparents were in the antique business and she was the "shop kid," who learned from them and grew to love antiques herself. She moved her personal collection that was in her home in Indiana to 14STW in Huntington, starting her own business: Thistle Patch: Vintage Garden & Antiques!
Starting the shop was a new beginning for Williams and the name of the shop represents how Williams was trying to overcome personal challenges when she first came to Huntington in 2015.
"I have about 20% Scottish descent on my mother's side and our ancestral tree indicates that the McCarthy's (my mother's birth name) is tied to the McKenzie clan of the Scottish Highlands. The thistle is a nationally renowned emblem in Scotland; it stands for bravery, courage, loyalty, resilience, determination, and strength. It is considered an enormous blessing to enter a 'thistle patch,' in spite of the thistle's thorny or prickly features, to pass through the thistle patch means to overcome adversity."
The Value of Antiques
Many people value antqiues and vintage collectibles for many reasons. Perhaps it is the nostaligia of our grandparents, or simply a particular interest or shopping addiction. Williams said antiques can be so much more than something to keep hidden in your back room.
"Antiques and fine collectibles are a critical aspect of our economy as they are not just a reminder of our past or trendy objects, but they are valuable because of the story they represent of a different time when the quality and character of craftsmanship meant something to people," she said. "Buying and owning antiques is a generational investment of time-honored tradition; antiques are rarely affected by inflation or volatile markets as they tend to retain or increase in value. Antiques often carry sentimental value and most people have a story of something that has been handed down in their family that has a significant impact on that family and may even be a defining artifact for their lineage."
The Thistle Patch Anniversary Sale will begin Sept. 2nd and continue into Sept. 3rd from 11AM-4PM. Follow Thistle Patch on Facebook for constant updates and visit their website to learn more about this shop!
(Photos in this post are sneak peeks from Thistle Patch's Facebook! Follow along for more sneak peeks!)
