Bedford Street Antiques

Antiques should be Mary Roell's middle name. Not only does she own Bedford Street Antiques in Carlisle, Pa. and have her own booths, but for a while she also maintained two booths each at antique centers in New Oxford, Hanover, Greencastle, and Lemoyne, Pa. and Beaver Creek in Maryland.

"I'm one of those dealers who on my day off goes antique shopping," she said. "Plus, the more I know about the other shops, the better I can help a customer. If we don't have a particular item someone is looking for, I know where to send them." A great philosophy to have, especially in a business that is highly competitive. And one that doesn't always get the respect it should.

When Roell decided to set up her own antique business, she sought a low interest loan for a woman's business from the Pennsylvania State Redevelopment Authority. "I told them what I was planning to do, but they didn't take the antique business seriously," she said. "I insisted that having a large antique center downtown would bring people to restaurants and other businesses."

In January 2003, she attended a New Year's Day auction in downtown Carlisle. "I fell in love with the building," she affirmed. The owner, by then in his 80s was using it only for this one-day annual event. Roell and her husband drew up a business plan and in July she sent out letters to former associates at a then-closed antique shop where she used to work. "Out of 95 dealers, 75 opted to join me, so I sent all the letters to the state, the local bank and the Community First Fund noting that I was ready to start business right away."

By June, everything was approved, but the money was not released until October. "In the meantime, the owner of the building gave me the keys and even agreed to lower the selling price if I cleaned it up. I organized some of the dealers and we spent three months cleaning the place out."

Bedford Street Antiques opened on December 13, 2003. Roell checked with the vendors and 36 decided to move in before Christmas - with no electricity or heat - the rest moved in after the holidays. She held a grand opening on January 24, 2004.

"In that short time we were named ‘Reader's Choice’ for 2003 by Harrisburg Magazine and have won their ‘Simply the Best’ award for the past five years in a row."

Originally, only the 17,000-sq. ft. first floor was open; now the 7,500-sq. ft. second floor is also filled with dealers. The third floor, also 7,500 sq. ft., was planned to serve as an apartment for the Roells, but they decided to buy a house next door which gave them 16 additional parking spaces and are considering using the third floor as storage rental.

Roell has been in the antiques business since she and her husband lived in Ohio and Indiana. They would go to auctions, buy broken items, refinish, and restore them. They also became involved in an antique store in Lebanon. "I have some art background and I restored oil paintings, vases, statues, and gilded picture frames," said Roell. Although she does little restoration work now, she is also a certified appraiser.

When the family moved to Carlisle, Roell would see off her husband to work, her sons to school, and then begin to explore the area. "I would try to get lost and go looking for antique shops. I found a part-time job in one and worked there for five years."

A gentleman in Hanover asked her to help set up a store in Carlisle. "I kept insisting that I only wanted a part-time job, but I wound up as manager for five years." It was a short step then to opening her own place.

Even her choice of a building reflects her profession. Bedford Street Antiques is housed in the former First Lutheran Church, built in 1807. It burned down in 1851, was rebuilt in 1852, and the congregation later moved a few blocks away. During the Civil War, several officers of General Richard Ewell's Corps attended a service at the church and General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry shelled both town and church.

In 1899 the building was purchased by J. W. Plank to become the site of the Carlisle Garment Company which made Molly Pitcher dresses (some of the original trunks are on display.). The original Plank safe with its thick double doors and interior shelving can be seen in Roell's office.

Now the building houses an eclectic mix of some 100 vendors who show everything from wonderful Victorian clothes (dresses, boots, and hats) to good furniture and great mirrors, intriguing prints such as the sepia-toned "Drunken Friars," a cigar store Indian who keeps company with a large black and white Marilyn Monroe print, walking wheels, antique tool chests, and, in anticipation of the holidays, a selection of turkey serving platters.

A strength of Bedford Street is its china collections. There is a 70-year-old Royal Staffordshire china in a rare purple color, English Chippendale sets, one with a bold red flower pattern and another in a delicate pink willow, Blue Spode, and more contemporary blue and white Polish pottery.

The first floor also features a set piece, with the furniture arranged as if in a home with several striking Oriental pieces.

Roell notes that over the past five years, as the economy has changed, it has become harder to find quality pieces. And she admits that "for a while e-Bay hurt us." But, "We still do well because people want to touch things not just see them on a screen." She also finds that people prefer to shop in an area where several stores are located close by. "People like to go to a place where there is a shop down the road with more than one dealer."

Bedford Street Antiques also holds several annual events. In January, and sometimes in the spring, there is a Jazz Fest; shopping hours are extended to 9 p.m. and clients can listen to the jazz band, walk around with their refreshments, and shop. Periodically, on Sundays, a mini-road show is also held outside the building. For the occasion, appraisers and auctioneers are brought in.

The latest addition is a website, set up by Roell's son Christopher, who also works part time in the store. From those first days with little conveniences, Roell has built a strong business based on attractive offerings and a supportive staff, the majority of whom have been with her for 10 years. As she noted: "The antique business gets into your blood even if you have your own business, we still want to continue as dealers."

Bedford Street Antiques is located at 44 N. Bedford Street in Carlisle, Pa. The hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visa, Master/Card, and Discover are accepted. The website is www.bedfordstreetantiques.com.