Warehouse 55, an antiques and collectibles store, is all settled in at its new location in Batavia after moving from Aurora last month.
Warehouse 55, which formerly occupied a two-story structure at 55 S. Lake St. in Aurora, welcomed shoppers beginning Oct. 24 at its new location at 160 First St. in Batavia. The Aurora site officially closed on Oct. 5.
The new location is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Local business executives like Beth Walker, executive director of Batavia MainStreet, welcomed the newcomer with open arms.
“Batavia MainStreet is thrilled to welcome Warehouse 55 to our downtown district. Their move brings fresh energy, unique style and a new shopping experience that perfectly complements the creativity and character of our existing retail landscape,” Walker said. “We’re excited to see their presence further enhance the vitality and charm of our community.”
Jen Shinofield of Sugar Grove was among the first to check out the shop’s new location in Batavia on Oct. 24.
“I went to the old store before and have been checking out this new one on Facebook,” she said. “I like all the vintage and antiques and I’m looking to get unique things. The other shop was a little bit difficult to get around in and didn’t have a good flow. For me it’s all about the unique things that you can’t find at the big stores which is one of the things that keeps bringing me back.”
Owner Mark Shouldeen of Aurora said that moving Warehouse 55 to Batavia was, in the end, about space and the configuration of the former building in Aurora.
“We found that we needed to find a building that would fit our needs better. We needed to be on one floor,” he said. “Our old building was two stories. We were there six years. We started looking about two years ago for a new place.”
Shouldeen said the new location “offers a nicer flow and will be more accessible for customers to shop.”
“We do get a lot of elderly customers and it was hard for them to shop the other store with all the stairs,” he said.
“It’s more of an open layout,” he said of the Batavia location. “In terms of stock and room it’s about the same. In fact, we’ve gained a little more.”
Shouldeen said that “people will pretty much find the same things as we had at the old store. We really didn’t change anything in terms of merchandise. We’re just making it a better shopping experience. For people who have shopped here before it’s going to feel familiar. We have the same work crew and will still sell things online.”
Elise Healy of Elmhurst visited the store on its opening day in Batavia.
“I just like finding little treasures,” she said. “There’s so much more personality and little things that have been passed down. It’s like a treasure hunt. I never leave empty-handed. I didn’t come with anything I needed and I’m sure I’ll leave with a lot of things.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
