The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
‘SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE’
Treasures at The Langshaw prides itself on wide variety of antiques and collectibles, and comfortable store atmosphere
Brenda Kintop doesn’t hold back when asked if she’s happy about her decision to open the Treasures at The Langshaw antique and collectibles store in Perry Village nearly five years ago.
“This is my dream job,” she said. “I get to buy stuff that I love and find new homes for it. It’s great.”
Located at 4179 Main St., Treasures at The Langshaw carries a vast selection of vintage, antique, salvaged and repurposed items to enhance customers’ homes or give as gifts.
“We have something for everyone,” Kintop said.
Kintop’s passion for antiques dates back to her childhood.
“I bought my first antique when I was 11 years old at an estate sale with my mom,” she said.
Since that first transaction, Kintop has continued to search for, purchase and collect many more antiques.
“... Because you never know what you couldn’t live without. If you go in not looking for anything specific and you find something, then it’s like Christmas, and you’re never disappointed.” — Brenda Kintop
One store that she shopped at was Main Street Antiques, which operated for many years at 4179 Main St. in Perry. The same site eventually would become the home of Treasures at The Langshaw.
About five years ago, Brenda Kintop and her husband, Scott Kintop, learned that the Langshaw Building — which consists of two separate properties within one structure — was going to be sold. The building owner also happened to be the owner of Main Street Antiques.
So the Kintops, who live in Perry Township, bought the half of the building at 4179 Main, along with the Main Street Antiques business. In making the acquisition, the Kintops received the inventory of Main Street Antiques. From there, they bolstered the store’s offerings with items bought at auctions and estate sales, and from visiting customers.
Brenda Kintop said she wanted to come up with a new name for the store that paid homage to the history of the Langshaw Building. The building was constructed in the early 1900s by Frank Langshaw. He originally operated a general store at the site.
“When it first opened, it was kind of like the department store of its day, and upstairs they had sewing machines and bolts of fabric and that kind of stuff,” Kintop said. “That’s where we (now) have three apartments.”
Langshaw’s general store evolved into a grocery store, which was run by later generations of his family until the business closed in 1975.
Before renaming the shop Treasures at The Langshaw, Kintop sought the blessing of someone from the business patriarch’s family.
“I know some people who are kind of distant relatives of the Langshaws,” she said. “The gentleman’s mom was a Langshaw, so I asked them before I named it, if they would be offended if I named it Treasures at The Langshaw. And they said, no, they would actually be honored.”
Treasures at The Langshaw strives to offer a comfortable atmosphere for shoppers when they come in to browse, Kintop noted.
“I’m not a hounder,” she said. “When somebody comes in, I welcome them and then let them know if they have any questions or need any help with anything, I’m here for them.”
Kintop believes that Treasures at The Langshaw offers a nice mix of antiques representing different styles and from various eras.
For example, she said the shop has a lot of primitive antiques, which she described as being a bit more rustic and weathered in appearance.
“The people that owned (the store) before us were open in the ‘80s and ‘90s and it was the height of primitives,” she said.
In addition, Treasures at The Langshaw stocks everything from industrial decor to mid-century modern furniture.
Other assorted items in the store that might attract the attention of customers are a Clough & Warren Co. organ from the 1800s; and antique or vintage tools, furniture, sewing machines, musical instruments, picture frames, and pots and pans.
However, Kintop said if shoppers go to any antique store and don’t see a particular item they’re looking for, ask an employee if the business might have it in storage.
“Because all of us (antique shops) have a room (for storing additional items), and you never know, that person might have it back there,” she said.
But Kintop said it’s just as fun to browse at a store like Treasures at The Langshaw when a customer isn’t focused on searching for certain antiques or collectibles.
“Because you never know what you couldn’t live without,” she said. “If you go in not looking for anything specific and you find something, then it’s like Christmas, and you’re never disappointed.”
For more information about Treasures at The Langshaw, call 440-4292701 or visit the store’s Facebook page.