More than Junk
Two Willard women took their hobby of refinishing furniture and home décor items and turned it into a weekend store, which has been booming with business for more than two years.
THE SHOP: 2 Ladies & a Junk Store, 517 E. New Melville, Willard, 417-848-1798, open Saturdays 9 a.m.—4 p.m.
ATMOSPHERE: I was a bit surprised when I drove into the parking lot of 2 Ladies & a Junk Store. I was told the shop was small, but I didn’t know it was that tiny. (It’s about 14-by-20, comparable in size to a master bedroom.) Located literally in a field, the shop’s building used to be an old trailer sales business office. There are furniture pieces, knick knacks and seasonal decorations everywhere.
KEY PEOPLE: A pair of smiling women, Mary Crighton and Amy Sims, greeted me after I walked in. Mary is a secretary at Willard North Elementary School, and Amy is principal of Willard Middle School, and the two are mother and daughter. The duo says they have always enjoyed going to garage sales and resale shops and buying things to fix up, and one day they decided that they could do something with their projects. “The land is family-owned, so we have no overhead costs,” Amy says. The two fit in garage sale and resale sale shopping on weekends, and they work on refinishing the pieces in the evenings. “We just love doing this stuff, it’s so fun,” Mary says.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND: What you’ll find at 2 Ladies & a Junk Store depends on what Mary and Amy find on their shopping trips, since their merchandise consists entirely of things they buy, transform and resell. But despite the name, it’s anything but junk. Popular items include a variety of furniture and home décor items, and they often have seasonal decorations. “It’s always a one-of-a-kind find here,” Amy says. And no matter what the item is, you can guarantee the price will be a steal. “We keep our prices low because we like to add new stuff every week, we have to keep the stuff moving,” Amy says.
417 VERDICT: Whether you’re redecorating your entire home or just looking for a single finishing touch, 2 Ladies & a Junk Store is a great place to check out. And especially if you’re on a budget. The furniture looks like it comes from a high-end store, but the prices are less than most resale and thrift stores. This place is worth setting the alarm on a Saturday morning for, just to get there early and have the first pick at the week’s finds.
