A store window that was once filled with books now features curious goods including a grandfather clock and a set of brass mantle lamps.
“The lamps are $100 for the set. They’re heavy,” said Melissa H. Stanberry, Pottsville, the owner of Hidden Treasures, which will open at 310 N. Centre St., Pottsville, on March 1.
On Tuesday, she and a friend, Nick Kurtz, Mechanicsville, were stocking the shelves. One item he unpacked and put on display was a dark blue ceramic piggy bank from Germany.
“This was made in Western Germany. It’s $15,” Stanberry said.
She said she had “several thousand” items in stock, as she stood next to a row of glass decanters.
Since Stanberry opened Hidden Treasures nine years ago, it’s had five locations.
In 2007, it opened at 400 S. Centre St., Pottsville. In 2008, it moved to 1590 W. Market St., Pottsville, and in 2011, it moved to 419 W. Market St. Then in May 2015, it moved to 113 E. Tammany St., Orwigsburg.
“I moved to Orwigsburg thinking it would be a better move. But it wasn’t as lucrative as we thought it would be. This is our fifth location, and final, I hope. Location does have a lot to do with your success as a business,” she said.
In November, the owner of Good-Will Christian Bookstore at 310 N. Centre St., announced it would close its doors at the end of the year. It was in business 65 years and its owner, Roy Musser, Palo Alto, had decided to retire.
The property is owned by the owners of Copycat Business Systems, 306 N. Centre St., Pottsville, John and Angie Mattera Onufer.
When Stanberry heard the news, she inquired about the space.
“I saw it on Craigslist. I was looking to relocate in Pottsville. It’s nice and big and it’s all one room on one floor. I think it’s 3,800 square feet,” Stanberry said.
For the past few weeks, she’s been moving Hidden Treasures in there.
“We carry absolutely everything. We have furniture, china, glassware, linens, vintage clothing, shoes, hats, purses, sterling silver jewelry and costume jewelry. I have crystal, Dresden and Waterford,” she said.
She also had a Johann Haviland “Moss Rose” china set on display with a $300 price tag.
“I also sell DVDs, CDs and video games. I believe I have 1,200 DVDs. DVDs are $3 each or four for $10. We collect our items from auctions, yard sales and flea markets. And we do a lot of house clean-outs,” she said.
The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, starting March 1.