Peabody antique store reopens after hiatus
Staff writer
Three years after closing its downtown storefront, Fannie Sterling 1884 has reopened in Peabody.
The store brings antiques, collectibles and vintage furnishings back to one of the town’s historic buildings.
Owner Steve Blackwell’s grand re-opening this past weekend comes after a difficult stretch that included both a slowdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant health setback for Blackwell.
Blackwell suffered a stroke about three years ago. It left him unable to actively operate the business for a time.
During his recovery, he continued selling antiques through spots in Wichita and occasionally sold items from the Peabody building, but the storefront remained largely closed.
Reopening was always part of the plan.
“We’d always planned on reopening,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell operated the store for about seven years before closing its doors.
Customers returning to the shop will find a mix of farmhouse primitives, apothecary items, dishes, painted porcelain signs, and furniture.
The inventory has changed significantly during the closure, Blackwell said. Additional items were brought from storage, and more merchandise will continue to be unpacked and displayed.
Among the items he is most excited to offer are collections of antique medicine bottles and older furniture pieces salvaged from Peabody buildings.
Visitors who return regularly can expect to find something different each trip as new inventory continues to rotate onto the sales floor.
Blackwell plans to continue operating the store every other weekend from June 19 and June 20.
The schedule better reflects the realities of operating a specialty retail business in a small community, where customer traffic often fluctuates, he said. The business will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays during those weekends.
Blackwell noted several changes to downtown Peabody since the store last operated regularly, including streetscape improvements, additional restaurants and new businesses.
Fannie Sterling 1884 occupies a building with deep roots in Peabody’s commercial history.
The structure was part of Baker Furniture’s operation and has housed a variety of businesses, including a variety store, funeral home, and carpet business.
For Blackwell, however, the reopening is less about the building’s past than its future. After three years away, he is once again welcoming customers through the doors and adding another active storefront to Peabody.