New antique shop helps bring back memories

Stepping into Remember When… antique shop, you might not realize that it is actually a business. The warmth of a wood stove and the smell of fresh brewed coffee are the first things that greet customers to the house.

Carly Gillette bought the house that her parents lived in for 31 years and turned it into an antique shop that opened on Dec. 3. Her mother, Liz Gillette, is helping with the business that started because of Carly’s passion for antiques.

“My dad had an antique shop here in Ritzville for ten years,” said Carly. “I’ve wanted to do this my whole life. It was my dream.”

Carly moved from California to Ritzville on Sept. 17 and since then it has been a whirlwind of excitement. Everything had to be moved out of the house so all of the antiques could be moved in; all 12,000 pounds of antiques that she brought with her.

The antiques in the house are arranged by room meaning; if you are looking for cookware, go to the kitchen. If you are looking for books, the bedroom will probably be your best bet. Everything is arranged by theme, in great condition and reasonably priced.

“The prices depend on what I paid,” said Carly. “But I’m not trying to get rich off of stuff I paid 25 cents for.”

Carly has spent the last 40 years collecting constantly; she always wanted to have a shop like her dad did. She wanted to make sure that her shop was in a house to give it that homey feeling, and help bring nostalgia for everyone who walked in the door.

Opening day started off slow with just a few customers stopping in to see what the business was like. But within a couple hours of opening, the store was packed with customers wandering around the various rooms in the house.

The atmosphere was full of joy and excitement as the customer’s swapped stories about the antiques that they recognized. It soon became evident why the store had been called “Remember When…”

“That’s what attracts me… The melancholy feeling of remembering grandparents,” said Carly as she heard all of the stories being told. “It’s all good memories.”

Carly’s father Burt passed away on Nov. 21, 2010, but Carly knows his memory and spirit live on through the shop. The wood stove that he used to use still works and is the main source of heat for the house. It is also still used to make fresh baked cookies for the patrons who visit the shop.

The stove is a dark gray, marbled granite stove and the utensils and cookware surrounding it have the same look. The family collected gray granite and when Burt passed away, his ashes were placed in a dark gray, granite can that Carly says is “like a cream can.” But they know he would not have had it any other way.

On the front of the house is a sign that says, “Burt’s Basement Antiques.” That is the original sign from her father’s shop that John Rankin had purchased many years ago.

“It’s painted on the other side,” said Carly. “But John stopped by and said ‘I thought you should have this.’ It meant so much to me.”

Even though Carly admits it will be hard for her to watch things go, she is excited for the new business. On slow days at the shop, she looks forward to reading a book next to the wood stove.

Carly also works part time at Blue Bike Catering Company on Thursdays and Fridays, and on those days, Liz will be taking care of the shop. This will allow Liz to spend more time in the house she has lived in for so long and make the transition easier.

There are still about 50 boxes that have not been unpacked and when the art that is on the walls is sold, there are new pieces of art ready to be hung up. The backyard will eventually be used as part of the shop with some antiques that are able to be outside.

“She’s got a real love for it… Just like her dad did,” said Liz.

Carly and Liz hope that Remember When… can be a place not only for antique shopping, but also a place where people can stop in just to chat.

“This is exactly what I want the shop to be,” said Carly. “I want people to come sit and talk, I want to hear the stories. I wanted it to be just like dad’s (shop) with people stopping in to visit.”

Remember When… is located at 311 West Main St. Ritzville and will be opened from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday thru Saturday. It is opened on Sunday’s by appointment only. Contact Carly at 925-727-6839 or at 659-1073 to schedule an appointment or for more information.