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Date: 12/7/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – In a small shop on North Main Street in East Longmeadow, an array of antique items are on display, waiting to share their stories.
Claudette Stephenson and her husband, James Stephenson, are the owners of CJ’s Antiques, which opened its doors this fall. Small furniture, oil lamps, Depression-era glass, books and glassware are just some of the pieces that can be found at the shop.
“I have an appreciation for antiques,” James said. “I think it stems from family heirlooms.”
Some items offered in the shop are vintage and collectible, but not at least 100 years old, and therefore, not technically antique. When deciding what to sell, James said, “We kind of go by what we like and what we think other people will like.”
James has several collections he has built over the years. “Thirty to 35 years ago, I developed an interest in fountain pens. Then it was shaving brushes. I have lots of brushes. Then it was glass insulators,” James said, referencing the bell-shaped glass that used to be used to insulate points along power lines. Many of those pieces have found their way onto the shelves and tables at CJ’s Antiques.
The couple have several items not on display due to space constraints, but if someone is looking for a special item, Claudette and James will try to help procure it.
The Stephensons source their antiques from estate sales and tag sales, as well as from sellers with whom they have done business in the past. Claudette said they are careful to confirm the age and authenticity of the pieces they sell.
“People who come in here, they have an interest in antiques,” she said. “Antiques aren’t just old stuff. There’s value there. We live in a society where people just throw things away, but you can refinish or repurpose something and it’s still useful.”
Every item has a history. Claudette said that when she buys antiques from people, the sellers want to talk about them. “They just start telling me about their life, about the piece they’re selling. The story just comes flowing out of them,” she said.
CJ’s Antiques plans to host events in the near future, with experts on different types of antiques, from bottles, to postcards and more. There will also be a dedicated website soon. For now, people outside the area can find items from CJ’s Antiques on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
So far, James said, business has been “not too bad. We’ve had quite a few sales and we’re still building a reputation in town.” Claudette can be found behind the counter most days that the store is open. James has a full-time job in transportation dispatch, but the two work hand in hand to find the antiques and items that they think will be the hidden gems their customers are looking for. Just like the shop itself, Claudette said.
CJ’s Antiques is located at 174 North Main St. and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 505-9903.