Photo by Jay Paul
From left: Allyson Boggess, Rachel LeStourgeon and Tammy Gurdin
The Lakeside Farmers Market has a new neighbor. On May 31, RVA Antiques Mall opened with more than 30 vendors selling shabby-chic furniture, local artisanal wares and more. “We’re not your grandma’s antique mall,” owner Tammy Gurdin says of the 10,000-square-foot space.
The North Side shopping center housed Standard Drugs in the 1960s, but the Lakeside Avenue building was vacant for decades until Gurdin moved in. Her upcycled furniture business Yesterdays and Today occupies 300 square feet at the entrance, while most of the other vendors have 100-square-foot booths.
“We have [things for] man-cave-type rooms to beach-house items,” Gurdin says. Retired Henrico County firefighter Carl Elin sells industrial cabinets for the garage and vintage beer bottles, while Mona Burke produces upcycled nautical home décor. At The Creative Project Girl booth, Rachel Lestourgeon paints pets on repurposed items such as windowpanes and salvaged wood. Items at the antique mall range from $2 for trinkets to $700 for high-end shelving.
In addition to selling furniture, Gurdin offers furniture-painting classes for people who prefer to do it themselves. “We’ll help them achieve the look they’re going for,” she says of the three-hour class that costs $65. 868-0261 or facebook.com/rvaantiques
