By Bob Audette, Vermont Country Magazine.
QUECHEE — The Vermont Antique Mall on Quechee Gorge Village on Route 4 has become a destination spot for the curious and seekers of collectibles, vintage clothing and antiques.
More than 150 dealers on three floors offer curated items as varied as coin and card collections, classic Pyrex and cast iron cookware, clothes and handbags, pottery and crystals and antique furniture, jewelry, comic books, fine porcelain, baking dishes, tools of all kinds, souvenirs, knick-knacks and so much more.
There is so much to see and so many items to consider in the 18,000-square-foot building that visitors can spend most of a day browsing along the wide aisles of the mall.
“It can be a trip down memory lane,” said Cindy Walker, who bought the business with her husband, Mark, and has been greeting people from around the world since 2016.
“I love meeting the people and hearing their stories,” she said. “There’s rarely a dull moment.”
With a little bit of something for everybody, said Walker, the Vermont Antique Mall is the perfect way for a family to spend time together, with a conversation just waiting with each item on display.
Walker also praised her dealers, whom she credited with the knowledge and experience to know what people of all ages might be looking for.
There is so much to consider while walking the aisles of the Vermont Antique Mall, folks might find themselves hankering for a bite to eat or something to quench their thirst.
Quechee Gorge Village offers many options, including craft beer at Foley Brothers Brewing, food at the Vermont Snack Shack, spirits at Vermont Spirits Distilling Company, and treats from the Sweet Spot Candy Shoppe.
If you’re looking for maple syrup, Cabot and other artisanal cheeses, honey, wine, cider, books and puzzles, the General Store in Quechee Gorge Village has a little bit of everything, much of it sourced locally from Vermont.
But wait, there’s more at the village, including Vermont Toys & Games with a cornucopia of unique toys and games. And don’t skip the Vermont Spot Country Store, offering everything from delicious homemade fudge, penny candy and souvenirs to housewares and apparel.
Did we tell you about the rescue alpacas yet?
At the Vermont Alpaca Store, you can find apparel such as coats and sweaters and gloves made from alpaca fur, and you can pet one of the 10 alpacas that were rescued and taken into the care of Living The Dream Alpaca Farm.
Once you’ve refortified yourself, you can continue to stroll the aisles of the Vermont Antique Mall, maybe spot something new or go back to something that sparked your interest earlier.
“For some people, visiting the Vermont Antique Mall is a family tradition,” said Walker. “They come back year after year. We have little kids who gather with friends here for the special experience of finding something you never know you had to have. It warms my heart to see a younger generation starting their own collections.”
The Vermont Antique Mall at Quechee Gorge Village, open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is on Route 4 just a few minutes from Woodstock and just a stone’s throw from Quechee Gorge, where hundreds of thousands of people each year stop to gaze down 165 feet to the Ottauquechee River.
Bob Audette a cranky old white guy, is experiencing the world anew under the tutelage of an 11-year-old forest sprite. He’s been writing for the Brattleboro Reformer for nearly two decades.
