Washington County Enterprise-Leader
New Shop Opens In Prairie Grove
PRAIRIE GROVE — The latest antique store to open in Prairie Grove is just another example of how the downtown area continues to grow as a destination spot for visitors looking for unique items such as gifts, collectibles and decorations for their homes.
Audra Bailey, who lives in Valley View Estates, owns a law practice in Farmington but grew up in Brinkley going to antique stores with her mother. This later turned into her own hobby as she owned vendor booths in Fayetteville, Prairie Grove and Lincoln.
Opening her own store was just a natural progression.
Aud’s & En’s in the Grove, located at 116 E. Buchanan, opened July 1 and is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays.
The name of the shop has its own unique story, Bailey said, and comes from the nicknames of Bailey and her daughter, Ellyn, a rising ninth grader at Prairie Grove High. Ellyn’s cousins couldn’t say “Ellyn” when they were little and instead called her “En.” Bailey said her grandfather called her “Aud.”
Ellyn came up with the idea to use the nicknames for the store and Bailey said “in the Grove,” was added to let everyone know the shop was in Prairie Grove.
“We think it’s catchy enough it might work,” Bailey said.
Along with the catchy name, the store also has its own pet. Bailey’s shelter dog, Chloe, has a warm spot in the front window and sits contentedly watching people go by on the street.
Aud’s & En’s is not just an antique shop but also offers vintage and new items. Many of the antiques come from auctions and Bailey said she frequently attends auctions, not just to purchase great finds but also because she loves the experiences. Items in her store include a 1920s Heywood Wakefield buggy in pristine condition, Pelft antiques, homemade screens, stamps, license plates and even a spittoon from the Union Pacific Railroad.
Bailey has a soft spot at auctions for handmade crewel needlepoint and crochet dollies and tablecloths and said she cannot pass up the treasures.
“This is a dying art and I’m afraid it will soon be gone,” Bailey said.
Her store also has premium soaps, bath “bombs,” all kinds of linens, scarves, belts and Hot Wheels still in the packages.
“We don’t want to put ourselves out there as an antique store because it is not just antiques,” she added.
As the name Aud’s & En’s suggests, Bailey said, the store is filled with “odds and ends.”
She has four vendor booths available and those are filled right now.
The front counter has a space set aside for vintage candy and vintage drinks. Victory Candy, known as candy cigarettes years ago, and Boston Baked Beans are two of the vintage candies available. Another specialty candy is Wicked, a Chex mix type of candy made in Little Rock.
While she knows something about antiques, Bailey said she still does a lot of research. She tries to keep her prices reasonable, saying she doesn’t have to “hit home runs” but can live with “base hits.”
She added, “This is a hobby for me.”
The store has its own history and was originally part of a bank building built in 1912 and first occupied by Citizen’s Bank. Around 1915, First National Bank purchased the building and later it became Farmers & Merchants Bank. One of the back rooms of Bailey’s store still has the bank vault. Over the years, the space has also been used as a jewelry store, flower shop and art gallery.
Bailey said she has been most impressed by the reception from other downtown merchants.
“The people downtown have been very helpful to me,” she said. “They’ve been welcoming and encouraging.”
She said she’s found that downtown stores do not see each other as competition but as a group of businesses all working toward the same goal to create a vibrant downtown.
For more information, see the Facebook page, Aud’s & En’s in the Grove.
“We don’t want to put ourselves out there as an antique store because it is not just antiques.”
Audra Bailey Aud’s & En’s in the Grove