Call it thrift market arbitrage: buy low, sell higher — score a profit.
That, at any rate, is the business model behind Peter Pardoe’s new thrift and consignment shop in Lebanon.
Pardoe, former owner of West Lebanon thrift store The Fox Hole, advertising production assistant at the Valley News and stand-up humorist at Salt hill Pub, has opened The Rusty Spot in the former lower-level space of crafts store Scratch on Hanover Street.
A veteran prowler of flea markets, eBay listings and yard sales, Pardoe’s store features vintage military apparel and gear, professional sports jerseys, antique tools and authentic floral Hawaiian shirts.
“I’ve always wanted to open my own store again,” Pardoe said the other day before he officially opened last Wednesday. “I love talking with customers and finding good deals.”
Pardoe’s store — “Rusty” is Pardoe’s nickname — will also function as a commission-based consignment agent for other people selling things on eBay but who don’t want to hassle with the headache of packaging and shipping.
A walk-through of the store reveals that few items are too offbeat to catch Pardoe’s eye that believes someone, somewhere, will want it: electronic vacuum tubes from the 1940s, a 19th-century stovepipe hat, a British baby pram — which Pardoe describes as “straight out of Rosemary’s Baby” — Pacman-era video game equipment, miniature model kits, audio equipment and cases of ready-to-eat meals (MREs).
Pardoe, in fact, is a third-generation antique dealer. His father operated an antique store in Maine and his grandmother had an antique shop in New Jersey. The signs from those businesses hang in Pardoe’s store.
Pardoe said he is an opportunistic buyer and there is not much he won’t consider selling — although, he notes, he has his limits.
“My girlfriend will tell me to stay away from Beanie Babies,” he said.
It began as a hobby. Became a passion. Then a sideline. Now he’s quit his day job.
Jim Younce, owner of sports card and memorabilia shop The Bullpen, has moved his store from the former Hirsch’s building in Lebanon to Opera House Square in Claremont.
The new location, in the space formerly occupied by video game store One Last Life, expands Younce’s shop from 500 square feet to 1,400 square feet and now means he has enough room to run his weekly sports card and collectibles show in-store.
Previously, Younce was holding them at the Upper Valley Senior Center.
The move comes after former building owner Ed Hirsch sold his property on Hanover Street building to West Lebanon property owner Sam Altaf.
(Younce’s sister, Evelyn Cormier, who owns the Life’s Treasures consignment store in the same building, is expanding her store into Hirsch’s former retail space).
“Seventy-five percent of the business I do is online,” Younce said. “But we still get a lot of foot traffic.”
Younce spent 20 years as a chef, most recently Harvest Hill retirement community in Lebanon, but said last year things were going well enough that he was able to quit his job and devote himself full time to running his sports card and memorabilia business.
“It’s hard, but this is my dream job,” he said.
Younce is now hosting monthly sports celebrity autograph signings at his store in Claremont. In February WWE legend Doink the Clown and wrestling champion and Hall of Famer Bob Backlund visited and signed autographs at the store.
But his biggest score so far is former New England Patriots pro bowl tight end Ben Coates, who Younce said will make an appearance at the store in August.
For sale: Rare franchise opportunity. Established business. Loyal customer base. Gratification from helping people achieve their goals and stay healthy.
Curves in White River Junction has been put up for sale by its longtime owner, Tammy Latvis, who said if she doesn’t find a buyer by March she will be closing the business.
Latvis, of Enfield, has owned and operated the women’s fitness center on Route 5 since 2002. She said is selling Curves because “it’s time for a change. I have enjoyed every minute of it, but I’m ready for a different journey.”
Known for its 30-minute fitness circuit, Latvis said a buyer would get a “turnkey” operation, including recently updated equipment, CurvesSmart coaching system and — most important — 200 members.
“My youngest is 15 and my oldest is 87. She drives herself here,” Latvis said.
The White River Junction Curves is among only four in Vermont — the other nearest Curves is located in Randolph. New Hampshire has only one Curves location in Londonderry.
Latvis said she’s received a couple inquiries, “so there’s some interest percolating” but if she doesn’t get a firm buyer by the end of the month then she will close the business after 16 years (she said the landlord has agreed to continue the leader under a new owner).
Latvis, who previously owned Curves franchises in Hanover, Lebanon and Woodstock, said she has received gratification over the years from “seeing the change in the women who come in” which “raises their self esteem. It’s exciting and an amazing environment. Everyone is supportive of each other.”
News items of interest to the local business community are published in the Business & Money section of the Sunday Valley News. Submissions may be sent by email to: biznotes@vnews.com (high-resolution photographs may be attached in .jpg format). Items are edited for clarity and space.
