NAZARETH, Pa. - A new destination for antique and vintage items, including artwork, clothing, furniture and household goods, is coming soon to Northampton County.
Blackbird Antiques, a family-run store offering a wide assortment of unique antiques and vintage pieces, is expected to open in late April or early May at 19 Belvidere St. in Nazareth, co-owner Abby Bachstein said.
The business is a family affair, with Bachstein's father, Aaron Bachstein, her mother, Heather Bachstein, and her brother, Ethan Bachstein, all helping out in various capacities.
"For years, it's been a dream of ours as a family to open an antique store, and we're excited to finally be doing it," Abby said.
"We live in Nazareth, and when we passed by the space that we now rent, we thought, 'Oh my gosh, what an awesome opportunity to finally do what we've wanted to do for so long.' It's like a dream come true."
A passion for seeking out and collecting one-of-a-kind antiques is a Bachstein "family trait" that's been passed down through generations, Abby said.
Since she was a child, Abby's enjoyed antiquing with her father, who did the same with his father.
The family's large personal collection of antiques has been assembled over decades via auctions, estate sales and other antique stores, Abby said.
"Since I was little, antiquing is something we've done as a family," Abby said.
"My grandfather's also a collector. So, my dad grew up going to auctions and antique stores with his dad, and that kind of got passed on to him. He enjoyed doing it and then started bringing us along with him to do antiquing and auctions as well. With this new store, it'll be primarily my dad and I running things, but everyone is helping out."
Blackbird Antiques will feature a wide assortment of antiques and vintage pieces, including furniture such as chairs and coffee tables; artwork such as paintings and sculptures; tableware such as glasses and mugs; and various decorative and functional items such as lamps, pottery, cut glass, pressed glass, duck decoys and record players.
There also will be a small selection of vintage clothing and fashion accessories such as jewelry and hats.
Consignment opportunities will be available beginning within a couple of months of the store's opening, Abby said.
"We'll be carrying a little bit of everything, including early primitive and mid-century modern items as well as some military items," Abby said.
"We go all over the place for the inventory. There's a plethora of really good auctions in this area as well as within about a two-hour drive. My dad is also really into online auctions."
Blackbird Antiques, whose name was partially inspired by the Bachsteins' fondness for famed writer Edgar Allan Poe and one of his signature works, "The Raven," will occupy a soon-to-be-updated space that was previously home to a thrift shop, Abby said.
The family is planning to add new wall paint and other cosmetic touches to the space.
The Bachsteins are excited to join Nazareth's vibrant business scene, which includes neighboring retail stores such as The Hive, a market showcasing hand-crafted items from more than 130 Lehigh Valley area vendors.
"Nazareth is such a beautiful town to walk around, especially on that stretch," Abby said.
"There's a bunch of other local businesses nearby that have reached out to welcome us, and we're so appreciative of the support that we've received. We've also met a lot of people in the area who are very excited and supportive. So, it's been a very sweet, warm welcome, and we're super excited."
For the latest Blackbird Antiques updates, including an official opening announcement, follow the business' pages on Facebook and Instagram.