Pictured (standing) are Liz Metzger and Kathy Bruno. The two women recently opened an antique and collectibles shop in downtown Canastota. (Photo by Margo Frink)
Local women open antique shop in downtown Canastota
By Margo Frink
(Canastota, NY – Nov. 2013) Liz Metzger and Kathy Bruno have contributed to the vitality of downtown Canastota with the recent opening of their new shop, “The Refreshed Home.”
Located at 139 S. Peterboro Street, the store features a selection of vintage, mid-century modern, some handmade gifts and numerous one-of-a-kind collectible items.
Not only are they sharing their love of antiques and collectibles but they feel they are helping to “brighten up” downtown.
“Downtown needs life and vitality,” Metzger said. “We need a resurgence of downtown. We love our community and want Canastota to come to life.”
Metzger lived in an antique home and collected for years. Bruno loves to “bring it home and fix it up.”
“I can’t resist a buy,” Bruno said. “The hard part is letting it go.”
And that’s just what the two of them are doing, letting it go. A shopper could browse through the store, taking several passes and still not see everything The Refreshed Home has to offer. Roseville pottery, milk glass collectibles and Victorian pieces are just a few items for sale.
Bruno also participated in craft shows for years and made garland, ornaments and unique wine bottle covers. These and many more of her creations can be seen throughout the shop.
Metzger and Bruno also love to decorate and will come into your home and decorate or redesign your existing furniture and décor, what they call “refreshing your space.”
Metzger, who has been the Canastota Public Library’s director for 18 years, would like to expand on the library’s monthly featured artist. The idea is to feature Canastota’s finest artists and have the featured artist man the shop, allowing the shop to be open longer.
“Canastota needs an artists’ cooperative,” Metzger said. They would like the store to look like a house with the local artist’s work featured throughout.
Bruno is the Christian education director at the First Presbyterian Church in Oneida. She said The Refreshed Home is not competing with other businesses in Canastota.
“We are trying hard to have a wide variety and be affordable,” Bruno said.
The two plan to “do something special for the holidays” and they encourage the community to “buy local.”
The store is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment by calling 315-447-8912.