In an area abounding with bakeries and pharmacies, Antik Butik, which opened at 86-33 Whitney Avenue, was a treasure to behold. The shop’s offerings; antiques, collectibles, ephemera, clothing, etc filled the shop’s front space, and two smaller back rooms. Owner Patricia Baroni, a delightful person with an innate sense of cheer, welcomed each browser in with a smile. “I came here to Elmhurst in 1981, graduated from Newtown, and lived a block down on Whitney Avenue. When I noticed the For Rent sign, I said to my husband let’s open an antique store,” she said. I started collecting items which became my passion. I wanted to share with this community. It represents a lot. There isn’t any place around like this, she continued.”
The lack of enough foot traffic, the changing of cultural tastes, and the transiency of Elmhurst, may all play apart in its closing, but Ms. Baroni opines that the commute was the main drawback. “I live in L.I., exit 63, it’s too hard to come every day, sometimes traffic makes it take way more than an hour to come to Queens, so I decided to close the store.
When I first met Ms. Baroni, and visited three years ago, she wanted to be a beacon for the community by offering something different than the usual products found in nearby retail stores. Mom and Pop businesses were once the norm along the main arteries of Elmhurst, so a little revival was a challenge. “I expected more people interested. I noticed a lot of students and kids coming in excited, connecting the store’s contents with their grandma’s belongings, a lot of treasures.
Although the loss of Antik Butik, and Ms. Baroni’s presence will be missed, the story may not be fully over. Ideas for a future website may be explored, and Ms. Baroni, like other longterm Elmhursters still wishes to impact upon the community by donating for children when visiting during holiday events. We wish her all the best as she moves along in her next chapter. Antik Butik is expected to close by the end of April, or a little longer. All Merchandise is 50% off.
James is the Vice President of the Newtown Civic Association, the Elmhurst Memorial League, and Elmhurst History and Cemeteries Preservation Society.
