Roslyn Couple Gets Down to Business on Collecting

When Charles and Jeanne Stamets first opened their antiques and collectibles store, it was out of necessity.

Jeanne, two years ago, had been out of work and the Roslyn couple needed the extra income that a store could bring in.

Fast forward two years and both are employed full-time. Yet, the need to have a store still persists. 

“When we travel, we stop at all the antiques stores,” Charles said from the family’s 1-week-old shop, Taylor’s Treasure Chest, at 216 S. York Road in Hatboro. “That got us into it.”

Their collections hang from the ceiling, line bookshelves and fill glass cases at the register in the 800-square-foot shop along Hatboro’s main street. Treasures range from rare coins, glass soda bottles, paintings, vintage Barbie clothing, as well as more modern items featuring the Disney princesses and Hannah Montana.

“You’ve got to pretty much know a lot because if you don’t, you can get burned,” Charles said of his offerings. “I look everything up.”

Besides seeking out antiques stores, Charles said he regularly goes to auctions, obtains merchandise from cleanouts and consigns goods for sellers.

“We just don’t have antiques,” he said. “We sell new items also.”

In the coming weeks, he said gourmet chocolate-covered pretzels made by Jenkintown-based Dee’s Pretzels will be available.

Unlike the hefty price tags commonly found in antiques stores, Charles said his most expensive item at the moment is a large painting hanging behind the register that he is hoping to sell for $100. Prior to that, when he and Jeanne had their original 10-by-12 space in Bristol, Taylor’s Country Store, Mr. Stamets said his biggest sale was a train collection book for $275.

“It sold the same day I brought it in,” he said of the collection of 75 to 100 books. 

His wares complement goods at like-minded stores, next door at Presley’s Affordable Thrift at 218 S. York Road and Alice's Moving and Thrift at 220 S. York Road.

The Stamets' store helps advance the concept of an "antiques row" that Hatboro Main Street Manager Stephen Barth has said he envisions.

"The addition of another antique store is great for us and allows us to have a unique niche of these businesses," Barth said. "For antiquers, having multiple stores adds to the appeal and helps Hatboro become a haven for folks on the weekends looking for little treasures. This gives us about 10 venues for antiques."

Like the family-owned Alice’s, Taylor’s Treasure Chest is a true family affair. The store’s namesake, the couple’s 11-year-old daughter, Taylor, helps run the register and lists items on Craigslist. Mr. Stamets said his in-laws, who live at nearby Moreland Towers, help he and his wife manage their shared third full-time job, which is open Monday through Sunday. Mr. Stamets helps run the store at night following his day-time maintenance work at Buckingham Friends School and Mrs. Stamets manages it during the day prior to her night job.

“You’ve got to nowadays,” he said of the need to work while running a full-time business.