Spring Shop Hop to provide plenty of excitement for antiques collectors

Photo and story by Ralph Schwarz
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 24, 2004
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 29, 2004

From April 30 through May 2, antiques and collectibles dealers from Sanborn and Wheatfield will provide once again a shopping experience of a different kind with the 2nd annual Spring Shop Hop. Shown in the above photo (left to right) are Karolyn Lauffer of Lauffer's Antiques and Collectibles; Bonnie Haskell of Jacob's Latter; and Charlene McKaig of Oldies & Goodies.

As the temperatures get warmer and first flowers come to bloom, antiques and collectible dealers in the Sanborn-Wheatfield area will celebrate the arrival of spring with the 2nd annual Spring Shop Hop.

Continuing the successful concept of previous four seasonal events, the 10 member shops of the Sanborn-Wheatfield Antiques & Gifts Group will host a coordinated event from Friday, April 30, to Sunday, May 2, to give shoppers and collectors a chance to look at a broad variety of goods and take a step back in time to re-visit memories of days gone by.

"The Spring Shop Hop is our way to celebrate spring and to introduce new people to our shops," said Bonnie Haskell of Jacob's Latter, one of the stores participating in the event. "With the warmer weather, people want to go out and check out different stores, and we are giving them a chance to look at our little antique and gift village."

Broad Variety Of Merchandise

With eight antiques and gift stores and two antiques co-ops located within a driving-distance of less than 20 minutes, Sanborn-Wheatfield appears as the ideal destination for shoppers who are looking for unique vintage items for all occasions.

"This time of the year, many people look for something to complement their garden decor -- bird baths, benches or watering cans," said Karolyn Lauffer of Lauffer's Antiques. "But people are also looking for gifts for Mother's Day, Father's Day, weddings and communions."

After adding new merchandise over the winter, the participating stores will offer something for everybody.

"That's our motto," said Charlene McKaig of Oldies & Goodies. "We have a broad variety of stores from big co-ops with 75 dealers to small independently-owned shops, so there is a big variety."

Like the previously held events, shoppers at the participating stores will receive a Shop Hop Passport, which will be stamped at each venue they visit. The shoppers who collect stamps from all nine locations during the three days will be entered into drawings for a $75 and a $25 gift certificate, redeemable at any of the shops taking part in the event.

"Not only did we increased the amount of the gift certificate, we also increased the chances of winning by adding a second grand prize," Haskell said. "It's also a way to give our regulars a chance to win prizes."

In addition, each of the participating stores will offer different special events as well as door prizes and refreshments.

"Every store will have an open-house atmosphere the whole family can enjoy," Lauffer said.

Local Economy To Benefit

Besides the antiques and collectible stores, the local economy is also expected to benefit from the Spring Shop Hop.

"Tourists are starting to discover other attractions away from the Falls," McKaig said. "Here in Sanborn and Wheatfield, we have all kind of things -- restaurants, shopping, the Carrousel Museum -- close together and for the whole family to enjoy."

Once referred to as the least-known secret in Western New York, area residents as well as tourists have started to find out about the Sanborn-Wheatfield antiques destination.

"We have more tourists coming to our stores," Lauffer said. "The casino certainly brings us more people. Especially those who won come out here to spend some of their money."

With the local economy slowly discovering, the SWAGG shops consider themselves an important contributor.

"More tourists ultimately results in more retail sales," Lauffer said. "You don't need a big business to be successful. If you can get enough small businesses together, it works, too.

With a new antiques shop expected to open in the upcoming weeks, the Sanborn-Wheatfield area will continue to establish itself as Western New York's antiques destination.

"Western New York is a good place to shop because it's so right in antiques," McKaig said, who recently received a call from a woman in Syracuse who heard about the local antiques and collectibles scene through the Sanborn Area Historical Society. "She was asking us for directions on how to get to our stores. That shows us that the word is getting out now."

Shop Hop Hours

The Spring Shop Hop will take place from Friday, April 30, to Sunday, May 2.

Participating in the event are:

• Jacob's Ladder, 5835 Buffalo St., Sanborn.
• Sanborn Old General Store, 5856 Buffalo St., Sanborn.
• The Mill Marketplace, 5890 Ward Road, Sanborn.
• Oldies & Goodies, 3039 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield.
• Lauffer's Antiques, 3039 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield.
• Calico Corner Collectibles, 3082 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield.
• Kissel Country Tin, 7296 Schultz Road, Wheatfield.
• Shawnee Country Barns Antique Co-op, 6608 Shawnee Road, Wheatfield.
• Asti Antiques, 6608 Shawnee Road, Wheatfield.
• Tea Time Antiquities, 6608 Shawnee Road, Wheatfield.

Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Visitors can pick up their Holiday Passports at all 10 participating stores.