Crickets on South Main, an antique and collectible store in downtown Mount Vernon, is celebrating its fifth anniversary in April, one of its owners, Barbara Gibson, told the Mount Vernon News.
The four owners are all members of the Knox County Historical Society, Gibson said.
"We were all talking one night about how it was a shame there were only two antique stores in town," she said. "Before you knew it, we were committed. We didn't even know if we would make it one year."
In addition to Gibson, the owners are Ann Hudson, Anne Laudeman and Cindy Sperry.
Crickets rents booths to antique dealers and also receives a percentage of the sales, Gibson said.
Antique furniture is usually better quality than new furniture, she said.
"It's better-built, sturdier, all around in better shape," she said. "It's been in existence for 100 years or more, and look at it now. It's still pretty darn good."
The store attracts many out-of-town customers, Gibson said.
"We have the parents of students at Kenyon College come in a lot when they are in town," she said. "We have people from Columbus, Wooster, Mansfield, Cleveland, Dayton."
A couple from California bought an old oak physician's examining table.
"They paid to have it shipped," Gibson said. "I know what they paid for it and I know how much they paid to have it shipped, and it was quite a bit."
The store regularly participates in downtown events such as First Fridays and is pleased with the number of people who turn out, Gibson said.
"Sometimes we have 100 or more people in the store on First Fridays," she said.
Christmas is also a big season.
Last year, "November and December were the best we've had for the last five years," said Gibson. "We surprised ourselves."
Crickets on South Main is at 120 South Main St. in Mount Vernon. The phone number is 740-326-9581.
Hours: Tuesdays through Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays except during the holiday seasons.
