This Week: Country Junque

Some antiques stores specialize in specific items, while others carry a little bit of everything, including new things and handmade items. Stores like the latter can sometimes have so much inventory they are busting at the seams. Bayport's Country Junque is a full house: it has so many items, the owners are using outdoor space.

"This building was originally three separate stores but now all three stores are our stuff, plus we have things outside. It's a picker's dream out there," said Sis Yanelli, who has owned the store with her husband Bud for 26 years.

The store does not sell strictly antiques. "I like reproductions of anything, but we always tell customers what is new and what is old," Sis said.

The old includes china, glassware, ironstone, linens, various pottery, memorabilia items, furniture, chandeliers, books, records, crocks, lamps, toys, clocks and many other items. The things outside have a lot of rust and age to them, so if you like the weathered look or a nice aged patina on your antiques, there is a lot to choose from.

Some of the new items they carry are candle holders, wind chimes, signs and primitives like duck decoys made by their son, Michael, a folk artist. In fact, the couple said their whole family helps out with the store in some way.

"Our son also repairs old decoys and birds. His son, Ryan, did the website and his brother, Kyle, will do anything we ask. He's a good helper. Our daughter, Cissy, does the decorating."

The Yanellis grew up in Freeport but after they got married they moved to Bayport where they have lived for 40 years. Like a lot of people who love antiques, Sis was introduced to them by someone else who enjoyed them. "When I was 15 there was an antiques dealer I knew. She had more high end items, we wanted more affordable things.  Our prices are good, very fair," she said.

Sis collects Flow Blue Pottery and does not just keep her pieces for display only. "I have collected them since high school and I do have them displayed in a cabinet but I also use them. I guess it's because I am more of a decorator than a collector. I always mixed old and new, like cottage style, which I love."

His wife's collection inspired Bud to start his own. "I collected baseball cards when I was a kid but that was about it. My wife got me into collecting. Now I collect marbles, Vietnam history items and autographs. Mother Teresa's is one that I have," he said.

The store was a part time thing for Bud when it first opened. "I went to work for the phone company in 1957 and stayed for 30 years, so at the beginning when we first opened I just helped out part time," he said.

Sis said they have no problem finding items for the store. Local people come in and tell the Yanelli's they are selling their homes; the Yanelli's go "hunting" for things that way. "We also shop in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Hilton Head, South Carolina. We have fun, and that is the best part about the store.  The bills are the only bad part," Sis said.

Country Junque is located at 597 Middle Road. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-4pm. For more information, please visit their website: www.countryjunque.com.