Rebecca Gunter and Wanda Parker like to have a good time; buying and selling antiques
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Rebecca Gunter and Wanda Parker like to have a good time — buying and selling antiques.
The owners of Walnut & Vine Antiques can hardly talk about their new business together without cracking jokes and laughing. They have been friends for about six years, meeting while working in other antiques businesses.
Walnut & Vine is more than an antique store, Gunter and Parker said. The boutique-style store set up by vendors carries new and used collectables and home and garden items as well as vintage items.
“We actually have a love for this type of store ourselves,” Parker said. “We seek them out.”
Gunter added, “We love finding things and getting good deals.”
Laughing, Parker said they have to keep selling in order to keep shopping.
Most of Walnut & Vine’s 14 dealers and 25 consigners are from Murfreesboro and have been buying and selling antiques for a number of years. They come from as far away as Columbia, Brentwood, Lebanon and Nashville.
“We have very unique people,” Parker said.
In the United States, antiques are any furniture or accessories that are at least 100 years old. Vintage pieces are typically from the 1950-70s.
The store also is an authorized dealer for Murfreesboro artist Burton Dye.
“He is a wonderful local artist,” Parker said.
Gunter and Parker opened their store at 302 W. Vine St., in the former location of Heritage Gallery, in March. The 2,600-square-foot store opened completely filled with unique jewelry, dishes, artwork and furniture.
Four years ago, Gunter sold the Main Street Antique Mall that she operated for two and half years. The space on West Main Street was most recently Main Street Marketplace.
Parker, who moved to Murfreesboro from upstate New York, formerly owned Fabulous Finds, a home and garden consignment store that she closed about three years ago.
Both say their businesses were successful when they were sold or closed.
Gunter and Parker say they are constantly changing up the store and bringing in new merchandise. Items are turned over every 90 days.
“It has been amazing,” Gunter said of business so far. “We didn’t expect the customers and sales right when it first opened.”
The business partners also are continuing to look for more vendors and consigners.
Gunter and Parker hope soon to bring their antique store to the 21st century and sell merchandise on their Web site located at www.walnutandvine.com.
They want to increase their communication with customers and drive more traffic to the store through the Web site, especially in this time of rising gasoline prices.
Typically, the antiquing season is between September and March.
“Our customers are not just from Murfreesboro,” Parker said. “They are from other towns. It is kind of surprising us. They make a day of it.”
Gunter said the Murfreesboro antique community will strengthen and attract more shoppers with the opening of other antique stores in the area.
Walnut & Vine vendor Kim Boyd-Hughes is planning to open her own eclectic antiques boutique on East Vine Street in September. Ray Hines & Co., an antiques and home décor shop, is located on the Public Square.
Several antique stores are located along South Church Street, including Antique Centers I & II at 2213 S. Church St. and 2219 S. Church St., respectively, as well as Antiques Unlimited at 2303 S. Church St. and HylaBrook Antique Mall at 204 Chaffin Place.
Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.
Walnut & Vine Antiques
302 W. Vine St.
890-4007
www.walnutandvine.com
Hours of Operation
Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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