Restoring Vintage

Several shuttered spaces around Wilmington are getting new lives and fresh purposes under several recent plans. One-time shops, warehouses, and homes have been transformed into new businesses. Check out the twists on the spaces and the inspiration these female owners brought to the reimagined buildings.

Tri-County Estate Sales owner KRISTY LOUDEN knew she wanted a brick-and-mortar location where fellow lovers of all things vintage could find that right piece.

“I’ve been in love with old things since elementary school,” Louden says. “I have family in the antique business, and a lot who were collectors. I love seeing the joy on someone’s face when they find that perfect item for their space. It, in turn, brings me so much joy!”

While searching for the right location, it only made sense to find an old space in need of new life.

After seeing a listing for the former Rogers Appliance building on Oleander Drive, she decided she had to see it for herself.

Joseph Rogers opened the appliance repair business in 1947 in the space, which was later run by his son, Alvin, who closed the longtime shop in 2018.

After years of being shuttered, the shop still held potential.

“I’ll be honest, the photos for the listing weren’t great, but something kept telling me to make the appointment and take a look. I knew I didn’t want a new build. Years ago, I thought one day I’d like to open a shop in an old gas station or an old church. I’d been praying for the right space to open, (so) I made the appointment, fell in love with it, and everything fell into place,” Louden says. “I wanted a quirky, older building, and this is exactly everything I had envisioned. I love the industrial feel of it – the concrete floors and cinderblock walls.”

Officially named Tri-County Vintage & Consignment, Louden opened the new location on June 18 to customers and is bringing new life into the old with the vintage pieces she finds for her customers through estate sales, consignment, and vendors.

She is focused on creating a welcoming space where customers can enjoy their time.

“It’s a place where you can browse or shop and just enjoy yourself,” she says. “We have music playing, a large outdoor space, and eighty-plus vendors and consigners. I want folks to enjoy themselves and just have fun.”

Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tri-County Vintage & Consignment has a strong social media presence with weekly Facebook posts of unique treasures available in the shop, including furniture, vases, artwork, light fixtures, clothing, dinnerware, and other décor items.

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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