Vintage Vignette - August 2016

A Floor to Explore

The third floor of one of the Bay's most beloved historic buildings is now filled with collectibles and antiques, a treasure-hunter's dream world.
- by Martha Whitney Butler

More Shoofly Stories

Ann Tidwell, and Vicki and Doug Niolet on the second floor balcony

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.

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It was a place that I knew embodied the potential for something great. It wasn't long after that when Kimberly Favre, formerly of Shieldsboro Bazaar, opened her market Lagniappe. I heard nothing but great things from very reputable antique dealers about the place, so I finally took some time to explore it. I was ready to write and take photographs, but definitely not prepared for the truckload (literally) of stuff that I would haul out of there.

It was hard to focus on taking photos. Something in me had been triggered by the booth/stall layout coupled with the mass of interesting objects that were displayed with such care. After taking a few photos, I asked if I could continue looking around. It wasn't long before I fell in love with two vintage mid-century beauty parlor chairs. Next, I saw a very reasonably priced McCoy planter, then another thing, and another, and another, and so on. I couldn't stop.

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.

Click on any of the images below to enlarge, then hit arrow to advance.

It caters to all sects of the antique-loving world. Some come downtown in search of DIY projects and on the hunt for chairs to learn how to re-cane. They're looking for stuff that can be repaired or repurposed. Items like that are few and far between in the antique shops downtown. It's nice to have a honey hole to find those types of things- and it's right downtown above one of our favorite places!

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

This photograph was taken upstairs in the early 1900s during an event.