Cookstown Antique Market owners Bill and Diana Robinson were ready to welcome customers in person as soon as the Ontario government allowed them to open May 19.
“It has been a fairly steady stream of customers, new and old, coming into the store since then," said Diana.
One repeat customer, a young man from the Bond Head area, brought his friend to see the place and to look around.
“It’s a great place — great atmosphere, a lot of very cool little antiques and niche items," said Mason Dalakis.
Diana said it’s a misconception that young people don’t like this sort of store.
“We have a very young following. It’s absolutely wonderful to see," she said. "We have unique, one-of-a-kind, quality pieces and they appreciate that.”
The market, located south of Barrie, was purchased by the couple in 2017 from Bill’s parents and has been in business for 29 years.
COVID-19 posed some challenges, so the business went online with certain items.
“While we were closed, we produced a daily Facebook Live event ‘CAM Time’. In many of these episodes, we gave shoutouts to other local companies to encourage our viewers to also check out their stores, restaurants, services,” Diana said.
It didn’t take long to prepare the market to reopen once they were given the go-ahead.
“We installed two barriers at the cash wrap area and old licence plates on the floor, spaced at two-metre distance as cues for customers. We reached out to a local supplier for bulk hand sanitizer and wipes for our surfaces, such as handrails, counter tops, doors, washroom," Diana said.
The 6,000-square-foot, two-storey, century-old barn could have more than 30 customers at one time, but they feel this number allows for comfortable distancing.
The market is divided into units. Individual antique dealers rent a space, or spaces. With the help of staff, the market keeps and sells the items. Currently, it is at full capacity with 30 or so vendors.
“We also spread the concept that antiques/vintage was green before it was labelled as such," Diana said.
Market visitors are asked to take a number at the door to help track the number of customers; masks are voluntary, hand sanitizing when entering preferred to gloves.
“We want our customers to feel confident, whatever that looks like for them," Diana said. "We also want them to feel relaxed while they visit and at the same time feel safe to visit our store. I believe that we are achieving this through feedback that they are providing us.”
More information on the antique market can be found here.
Rosaleen Egan is a freelance journalist, storyteller and playwright. She blogs on her website rosiewrites.com.
