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Business & Tech

Putnam's Antique Shops: A Treasure Hunters Delight

From vintage clothing and furniture to old books and phonographs, this Quiet Corner Main Street offers several places for treasure hunters to wander.

While many antique stores in Putnam and throughout Connecticut have had to close their doors in recent years, two of Putnam’s most prominent stores are still going strong.

At 22,000 square feet, Putnam’s Antique Marketplace is one of the largest antique stores in New England. The wide selection of antiques draws treasure-hunters from all of the country, as well as Europe and Asia.

Much of the store space is dedicated to stalls rented by dealers, who will “buy [items] from anyone or any place,” according to John Person, the store’s manager. The Antique Marketplace’s owner, Jerry Cohen, is expanding his own collection to include a coin and silver business. Cohen’s current specialty is Arts and Crafts antiques.

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The Antiques Marketplace continues to work on bringing new audiences into the store. According to Person, the store has been working on updating its website, , and remodeling the space.

Next door to the Marketplace is Jeremiah’s Antiques Shoppes, which boasts a wide range of antiques and collectibles. The store hosts 50 different dealers, giving it a “bigger variety” according to its owner, Paul Vicequere.

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Vicequere, who purchased the store a year ago, also runs a free Celebrity Museum in the back of the store. The museum’s collection includes a piece of the Hindenberg, death masks of George Washington and John Dillinger, and props from countless movies and TV shows, including Titanic, Spartacus, and I Dream of Jeanie.

According to Vicequere, the store has struggled to bring in customers in recent years, but Putnam’s First Fridays program has helped by “bringing a lot of people into town.”

First Fridays in Downtown Putnam celebrates “all that Putnam has to offer,” in the words of the event’s Facebook page. Held on the first Friday of each month from May to August, the First Friday events include live entertainment and visual arts displays, as well as specials on dining and shopping.

In addition to the Antiques Marketplace and Jeremiah’s Antiques Shoppes, downtown Putnam also features numerous cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops.

Although downtown Putnam has a lot to offer to any visitor, the Antiques Marketplace and Jeremiah’s Antiques Shoppes are must-sees for any antiques enthusiast or treasure-hunter.

The Antiques Marketplace is at 109 Main St. in Putnam. For information, visit www.antiquesmarketplace.com or call 860-928-0442. Jeremiah’s Antiques Shoppes is at 26 Front St. in Putnam. For information, call 860-963-2671 or visit www.putnamantiques.com.

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