Antiquing: Hidden Treasures in Plain Sight

Walking through the streets of Nyack, you've undoubtedly stumbled across one of the village's ubiquitous antique stores.

The antique shops are village staples, and part the region's charm. Their origins date back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the beautiful—but then economically depressed—village of Nyack offered a great place for antiquers to settle and pay affordable rents.

Howard Siegel's shop, Christopher's, was among the very first in the neighborhood, opening 1969. Like the majority of the stores in the area, Christopher's staff obtains their pieces through estate sales and auctions—and the occasional walk-in clients. Whether it's a grandfather clock or stunning chandeliers, the store is a great place to add truly distinctive pieces to your home.

While Christopher's is one of the original antique stores in the area, it's hardly the only one. Stores like Circa on South Broadway and International Antiques and Theodore's on Main Street all are wonderful places to treasure hunt on a weekend afternoon. And of course there's the Franklin Antique Center, also located on Main Street, which houses several antique stores under one roof.

Carol Willinger, the proprietor of CD Antiques inside the center, shared some insight about her start in the business—she often had guests make offers on her home furnishings.

"It seemed like a natural progression to open up my own store," Willinger said. Willinger added her store specializes in eclectic, old and interesting pieces.

"There's a bargain in every antique store," she continued. "It's still the best place to decorate your house inexpensively with interesting pieces that are worth more than you pay for them."

And don't let the stereotype of old, stodgy antiques reign—Chet Klein of KuKu Antiques at the Franklin Antique Center specializes in  modern, twentieth-century pieces. Oversized paintings, posters, and art deco furniture immediately catch the eye, and show that these stores aren't only defined by older items.

Nyack's shop owners have put their heart and soul into finding these items, and often take great pride in showcasing them. Some of the stores are clearly staged and stylized, while others are thrown together in a way that'll require you to do some searching… but that's all part of the fun. You'll get completely lost in this kaleidoscope of the past, with items that'll make you gasp in amazement, smile while appreciating their beauty or even chuckle as you remember them from your own childhood. Every style is represented, from extremely gaudy and ornate pieces, to the more subdued furniture and old school house chairs.

If you're a first time buyer, don't be overwhelmed—you can discover your first treasures at an affordable cost. Items like costume jewelry, hinges, hardware, old records, picture frames and rug beaters can be had at a relative pittance, while the seasoned collector can find higher-end items such as mirrors, artwork, linen presses and solid wood furniture.

So: make it a point to go out and visit these stores this weekend, and you'll discover a wonderful afternoon in Nyack—and perhaps your own spectacular take-home treasure.