A Floor to Explore
- by Martha Whitney Butler
As I ascended the stairs to the third floor of Bay Emporium on Second Street in the sweltering summer heat, I didn't know what to expect.
The last time I had crossed the threshold, things were in the works. I was so enchanted by an old haunting photograph of a Woodmen of the World event hanging on the bottom floor that I all but begged owner Vicki Niolet to let me up there. It was marvelous. |
Vintage Vignette
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I felt like I had stumbled upon a treasure trove. This was the Valhalla of stuff! There was something for me in every space. A gift for a friend, a piece of folk art for my collection; all steals for the shopper looking for a great bargain. I probably could have spent several more hours (and dollars) up there.
As soon as I was able to shake myself out of the trance (and when my total started nearing a couple of hundred dollars), I started to view the place with a gratifying perspective. It was everything that us "junk-lovers" needed here in the Bay. It was a place that was raw and diverse. It hadn't been gentrified to accommodate the swell of tourists and it was for all of us that seek the thrill of finding the golden ticket. It's the type of place that you will find a legendary object that you can proudly tote to Antiques Roadshow.
Kim has carved her niche on the third floor. She's even supporting local charities like Friends of the Animal Shelter by giving them a space to sell items that benefit their organization. Here's where I enter my own shameless publicity plug....
Before I left, I had a brilliant idea. I decided to take a spot in honor of the Raw Oyster Marching Club. Beginning in mid-August, we will be selling costumes and accessories to benefit our marching club! We've even scheduled a (tentative) grand opening on Second Saturday in September. So I went to Lagniappe to take photos and write this article and I left with so much more than a truckload of awesome stuff. That's what these shops and shop owners around here do. They inspire us and motivate us to do what we love; whether it be shopping, repurposing, or creating. Don't walk - run to Lagniappe!
Hours of Lagniappe: Friday-Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday: 11 am - 3:30pm
Open late on Second Saturdays