Sifting through bookshelves of richly colored bound books, armoires made with hand-stitched clothing and tables of tea cups and candleholders, one becomes full of wonder and intrigue at the stories and history these pieces hold.
Treasures Antique Mall in Springville opened 13 years ago and has been buying and selling timeless pieces since. The antiques mall, owned by brother and sister team John Taylor and Penny Morris, began when one of their two buildings stood empty after housing Tandy Leather Crafts. Through the encouragement of the siblings’ friend, Treasures Antique Mall replaced the vacant space and eventually occupied both buildings, according to Gretchen Thiessens, an antiques vendor at the mall for seven years.
Today around 100 independent vendors rent booths and take turns working at the mall.
“We are invested in our space and so we take care of it and try to make it a pleasant shopping experience,” Thiessens said.
Each vendor’s specialty adds character and charm. Chuck Carlisle, a real estate broker, has sold “primitive” antiques including farming tools, and “rusty stuff that women don’t want to [sell]” for the past three years. Carlisle said that this genre of antiques caught his eye and he saw a demand for it by artists and other collectors.
Cindy Anderson, a vendor and antique enthusiast for many years said one of the neatest pieces she saw come through the mall was a Civil War Era autograph book from a finishing school from back East. She said the book was similar to a yearbook, but it was filled with inspirational poems and thoughts friends had written to each other in lacy calligraphy.
Among booths of antiques, collectibles of all sorts can be found. Lisa Ortega, mother of two, jewelry maker and vendor with an obsession for antiques, said that she came to the mall for years and decided it was time to “showcase art from friends and local artists.” She sells hand-crafted art, such as Nettie’s Gnomes and other dolls and trinkets. Ortega said another thing she loves about the mall is that there is something for everyone at prices people can afford.
Treasure’s Antiques mall is the largest co-op-styled antiques mall in Utah and attracts visitors from all over the country.
