This Antiquer Has Experience (And Celebrity Customers)

"I've always loved antiques," Sandy Ptalis explains.

But one stop by her shop—Old Business Antiques at 142 Main St. in Nyack—is explanation enough.

People from all walks visit Ptalis' shop. Here, Ptalis explained, visitors are joined together in the quest for collectibles and gems. Ptalis owns the shop with her husband Don, and she's been in this location for 17 years.

"When I first opened here, there were two or three stores," she said, referencing the surrounding antique and consignment shops. "It's now full."

Ptalis has been a collector of items for over 50 years, and has been in antiques for 35 years—and her wares prove it. Old Business Antiques has a great supply of jewelry and books, clothing and shoes. There are rare finds, too, like a Charlie McCarthy doll.

"Young and old can relate," Ptalis noted.

Ptalis's start in the field was modest.

"I started in our Teaneck, NJ apartment," she said. "I would buy here and there, and then we bought a house in Emerson. We began furnishing our home, and that's how it started."

"There were dolls all over," Don Ptalis added.

Soon, Ptalis's collection became so vast she decided to keep records of her items. And meanwhile, she kept on purchasing, this time trekking to Europe (England, France and Belgium, specifically).

"I traveled all over purchasing all for my house," Ptalis explained.

Eventually, she ran into a friend who owned an antique shop, and worked alongside her. Soon after, she was ready to open her own store: 400-square-feet on Nyack's Main Street.

"I was excited—elated," Ptalis recalled.

But she was also very apprehensive. Don, however, was very supportive—an important factor for Sandy.

"That was very important, Ptalis explained. "It was great for my self-esteem, made me confident."

Success followed: when the new store was a mere four-years-old, the landlord approached her and asked her if she would like the storefront location in the mall. At first, she questioned the move—particularly the hike in rent.

"[But] he said 'you have gorgeous stuff,' and really pushed for it," Ptalis noted.

For Sandy and Don, it was an increase of 1,400 square feet. They said yes, and made a big sale their first day—just while they were just creating the front window display. She and Don were setting up an antique umbrella stand at and a car drove by, stopped and the driver knocked.

The woman pointed to the window and said, "I want that," and she paid $850.00 for it, Ptalis recalled. That very customer—and now her sister, too—often return to Old Business Antiques.

And why do they visit Sandy Ptalis?

"We're less expensive than New York City," Ptalis explained. " And Nyack is the hub of antiques."

Indeed, and Ptalis's merchandise is very popular. Her most expensive item is worth $1,600 (a rare doll carriage), and her least runs $5 (a bag of shells). Other unique items have fallen into Ptalis's hands, too: a 92-piece chintz set, a full dinner set of Shelly bone china that the King and Queen of England might have eaten off of and some Nippon (Japanese) porcelain vases, plates and coffee pots that cost thousand of dollars each.

And through the years, Sandy Ptalis has been visited by many celebrities. Ellyn Burstyn, Marissa Tomei, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Didi Conn, Will Shortz of the New York Times crossword puzzle fame (Don actually finished the Sunday crossword right in front of Shortz's eyes) and more.

But Ptalis enjoys the simplest things most.

"The best part of what I do is purchasing the items and meeting people," she said. "I'm a people person; I love my customers."