Melissa Rhodeshopes to bring a classic style to southwest Rochester.
Rhodes is working to open Antiquity, a quality used furniture and home decor store.
They expect to open sometime in early January at 1814 Second St. S.W. That's where the former Real Dealshome decor operated until it closed earlier this fall.
"I've always wanted to have a store of my own," says Melissa Rhodes, who is an interior designer. She previously worked for Susan Kelly Interior Designin Rochester.
She'll be offering her services through Antiquity to help customers get the best out of a piece as well as using her experienced eye to acquire items for the store.
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So what is her vision for Antiquity?
"Its a twist on the consignment store concept," she says.
Antiquity will buy the used furniture from individuals as well as from estate sales and auctions. Rhodes' plan is to focus on high-quality, used furniture. That way customers can get what was once a costly piece when it was new but is now more budget friendly.
In addition to used furniture, Rhodes plans to have new home decor items also.
She hopes following in the footsteps of another home decor store will help customers find Antiquity.
"People already have a familiarity with that location," she says.
While it will have similarities to its Real Deals predecessor, Antiquity will keep full retail hours instead of the limited schedule that Real Deals maintained.
The new store will also spread out a bit more than Real Deals did in the 2,800-square-foot space.
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As a family business, the Rhodeses expect to mainly staff it themselves at the start.
