Second Street Uniques goes for fun and different

At 200 square feet, Second Street Uniques isn't large. But for owner Elizabeth Barrett, that doesn't matter.

“It's a mishmosh, but that's what I think makes this place fun and interesting,” she said.

Barrett and her partner Kris Brown started selling their unique finds and custom-made art and furniture at craft shows. As they got more involved, their collection continued to grow to a point where they thought a small store would work.

In the basement of Hotel Rodney at the the corner of Second and Market streets in Lewes, Barrett's shop displays just a portion of her collection.

Brown is a third-generation master carpenter who has decades of experience building homes and furniture. Many of the items in the store are his creation, whether customized pieces of furniture or functional or decorative bird houses.

Barrett's skills lie more in the realm of art.

“I love to paint,” she said. “I like to do faux finishing, and I like to paint furniture.”

She's also a crafty person, and she has set up a craft table in a corner of the shop, which provides her with tasks during downtime, but also shows customers that most pieces in the shop are original.

“We try to avoid making two pieces exactly the same,” she said.

Much of the store's furniture and uniques originate from area auctions and flea markets. Barrett and Brown also have access to a barn that Barrett describes as a treasure trove.

Business has started to pick up since opening in late July, Barrett said. With no social media or online presence just yet, she said, her customers have been mostly through word of mouth. She plans to have a website up and running soon, where people can find many more oddities than she can be displayed in the shop.

“We've just been looking for the right location, and this came about for us,” she said. “We feel very fortunate and very hopeful. I have confidence that we're going to do well here.”

In addition to her collection, Barrett said, she takes items on consignment. Brown can also customize items if a customer is looking for something specific.

Second Street Uniques is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday hours are noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 302-644-2529.