Antiques and collectables shop opens in Ohio

Rae Ann’s features a wide range of treasurers from five vendors

OHIO — Ohio’s Main Street is home to a new antique and collectables store.

Rae Ann’s Antiques and Collectables opened at the beginning of June, and has been going strong, attracting visitors from around the area and beyond who seek out vintage treasures.

The business is owned by Jackie Hull, who just held a grand opening celebration at the shop earlier this month.

It’s been a dream of Hull’s for awhile to open up an antique shop. For many, many years, she’s been putting items aside and storing away collectables she hoped to sell in a storefront some day. Although COVID-19 set her back a bit on opening up a location, she finally got the opportunity this year, and the experience of running the business has been nothing but positive having been welcomed by the community.

Hull selected the small downtown of Ohio as her location, because it’s where she lives. Hull wanted to be close to home and her job as a nurse, while operating the storefront.

“It helps having [the business] close to home because if I buy items at an estate sale I can bring them here rather than take them home and figure out where to store them,” she said. “Ohio is a quint little town and we’re hoping there will soon be more businesses interested in opening shops here.”

Perhaps, the best part about running the business is getting to meet and talk with all those who step foot through the front door. Hull said she’s met so many visitors and people in town she’d never talked with before the store open. She gets a kick out of hearing what they used to do or do now for a living and hear the old stories about Ohio, like the flying saucer days in the 70s, she said.

Visitors also like to reminisce about her old building, which has been home to two former grocery stores in Ohio’s history. While Hull is unsure how far back the building dates, she guesses around the 40s. It does have the original floors and walls, making it an antique in its own right.

Rae Ann’s currently features displays from five vendors who bring a wide range of items to the shop. Shoppers can find gas station memorabilia, rock ‘n roll items, fishing collectables, glassware, jewelry, vintage board games, books and toys, records, furniture and much more.

“As long as it’s vintage and antique, we sell it,” Hull said.

A big attraction to the business has been its prices, according to Hull.

“We price our items in a way that if you only have a few dollars you can come in and buy something and we price all the way up to even $600 or more for items. There’s quite a variety,” she said. “People comment on the variety and prices.”

To Hull, price isn’t everything.

“It’s about moving the stuff and people getting what they want. It’s fun to watch people browse and see something from their childhood or maybe it was something their grandmother or mom once had,” she said, adding at the end of the day its mostly about that person finding an item that means something to them and being able to purchase it and take it home.

Hull does buy estates and visits sales around the state and even in Iowa. She welcomes people to contact her regarding estates. The business number is 815-376-4000. The business is located at 114 N. Main St., Ohio. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Visit the store’s website at RaeAnns.com or check out its Facebook page, RaeAnnsAntiques.