Fourteen years ago, Lori and Gary Minardi were looking to invest in a unique property on Long Island. They always had a penchant for antiquing and their home was full of one-of- a-kind pieces, like old church benches and a ceiling Gary a general contractor who specializes in the restoration and renovation of old homes and buildings made from recycled glass. With a history like theirs, it’s no wonder that they were drawn to the eclectic nature of Barntique Village, an antique village that has been around for nearly 40 years and is situated on an old farm that dates back to the 1800s. Some may even say it was love at first sight.
“I like to think of Barntique Village as a historian that preserves the past,” Lori said. “The things that you see here tend to bring back a flood of memories from your childhood, whether it’s beautiful dishes that your grandmother used to serve holiday dinners on or just well-made, uniquely designed furniture that has lasted throughout the years.”
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Each of the 18 historic buildings and sheds at Barntique Village are individually rented and filled to the brim with antiques and collectibles. It’s a rarity these days. According to Lori, stand-alone antique shops are a dying breed today, due to the majority of people shopping online. In her opinion, most of the shop owners do it for the love of the hunt and find, and it’s a form of therapy for them, an escape from the modern world. But they’re definitely not in it for the money. They’re in it for the experience and the pleasure that comes with connecting their buyers to the past.
“I love it when a customer comes in with their family and sees something that reminds them of a time long ago that they may have forgotten about,” Lori smiled. image: we know stuff
“I love it when a customer comes in with their family and sees something that reminds them of a time long ago that they may have forgotten about,” Lori smiled. “They start reminiscing and sharing memories with their children and grandchildren.”
Barntique Village is full of knowledgeable shop owners who take great pride and pleasure in introducing you to those unique items that you can decorate your home with to give it a sense of originality in a world full of cheaply made, mass-produced home goods. Connecting buyers to treasured finds is what makes this community thrive.
Most of the dealers have different sources for finding their items. Some frequent estate sales, whereas some work with pickers who bring items in to Barntique to try to sell to the dealers.
“They all do their part in preserving the items from the past,” Lori explained. “Barntique Village is one of the original green places long before that term was popular. The dealers all find pieces of furniture that they adore and bring it back to life by lovingly redoing the pieces instead of discarding them in the trash.”
Antique dealers and furniture refinishers enable people to add their own unique twist on decorating their houses. The Minardis can’t resist, either. Many of the items found in their pad have come directly from the shop owners in Barntique Village.
Many of the items found in the Minardi family’s pad have come directly from the shop owners in Barntique Village image: we know stuff
“I can always find something spectacular to add to our home,” Lori said. “I have beautiful crystal lamps and an old wooden trunk that I use as a coffee table from Bobby Mohr’s store, Hodge Podge. I have vintage tablecloths and napkins from Pat Lovito’s, The Cottage Shop. I even found some designer vintage cloths at Karen Szalay’s, Buttons N Bows. Every shop is so unique and each owner brings something new and wonderful to the village.”
Barntique Village is located at 327 Montauk Highway, Moriches. It is open Monday and Wednesdays thru Sunday from 11:30am to 4pm. It is closed on Sundays.