A new business has opened in Downtown Washington. Calico Cat Cupboards & Antiques opened its doors Thursday, Dec. 1.
The business is located at 217 W. Main St., where The Blackthorn Stick and The Fudge Shoppe once were.
Shop owner Tami McMann, Washington, also owns and operates Calico Cat Antiques in Union, which has been open for five years.
McMann said she has wanted to expand her business for several years.
After participating in the Fall Festival of the Arts and Crafts in Downtown Washington in September, McMann said she knew the time was right to expand. The store offers furniture created with antique wood doors and barn wood or other reclaimed wood, as well as antiques.
“We had a terrific response from (the festival),” she said. “We had been looking for a place that we could expand this idea.”
While the Union shop will focus more on antiques, the Downtown Washington location will focus more on furniture and custom items, though there will be crossover at both locations.
McMann also likes to repurpose and recycle elements, like hardware.
“We like to take a green approach to things,” she said. “I’ve been interested in that all of the five years I’ve been in the antiques business.”
In addition to pieces being available in the shop, a photo album also is available where customers can see and choose custom items including tables, shadow boxes, kitchen islands or other items.
“People may like an idea, but only have a certain amount of space,” McMann said. “Or they want it a little higher or a little lower — we like doing that.”
Items also can be shipped to other states, McMann said, adding that she recently sent a piece to New York.
In addition to creating unique furniture, McMann said she wants to be a good community partner and plans to do service projects, including serving as a dropoff point for “Soles4Souls.” Other downtown businesses also are invited to participate.
The organization collects new shoes to give relief to victims of disasters and collects used shoes to support micro-business efforts to eradicate poverty in developing nations.
Calico Cat Cupboards and Antiques will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Monday through the holidays. In January the store will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
A grand opening will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, beginning at 10 a.m. The event will include snacks and refreshments.
For more information, people may call 636-584-3382, or search Calico Cat Antiques on Facebook.
