“I couldn’t wait to retire to use my creative side and make the decisions,” she said. “Last year I rented a store on Highway 3 in Cayuga to see if I could make the transition from hobby to business. It worked out well.”

After buying the building on McMurchie Lane in downtown Smithville, Cindy established a permanent home for Vintage Vogue, allowing visitors to find the store more easily.

The shop is open four days a week – Wednesday through Sunday, which is the traditional day for antique store browsing.

She and her husband also raise and breed miniature horses – defined as 38 inches (96.52cm) maximum height. A recent acquisition is one of eight North American Curly Miniature horses in the world.

“Between the antiques and horses I probably spend more time working than when I had a job, but it’s work I enjoy.”

When you visit Vintage Vogue you’ll find a wide variety of collectibles and antiques. Glass... china... architectural – columns, windows, shutters, and signs... jewelry... furniture... farm items like wagon wheels, plows, orchard ladders... vintage clothing... linens... tools... and more.

And you’ll be surprised at how well the items are displayed. “I try to think of different uses for antiques, and display them in non-traditional ways. Right now I’m bringing out numerous vintage Christmas decorations, in time for the holidays.”

While Cindy has been a Caistor Center resident for four years, she’s a long time West Niagara resident. She lived in Smithville for three years, and Beamsville for 12 years prior to that.

So why open a store in Smithville?

“The township had done a study on ways of improving the downtown. A couple of years ago I read a report that said one of the things missing yet necessary to bring people downtown was an antique store. There isn’t an antique store here and I felt it needed one. And I live close.”

Despite years of Antiques Roadshow television proving otherwise, many folks still think antique = expensive. Cindy is doing her part to dispel that myth.

“Everybody who comes in here tells me our prices are really good. I call them ‘country’ prices. They’re lower than that what you’d find in city antique shops – such as in Hamilton and Toronto.”

McMurchie Lane connects to Highway 20 in downtown Smithville, next to Hodgkins Hardware. The phone number for Vintage Vogue is 905-957-8887. Cindy also promotes many other Smithville businesses at her website -- http://www.mcmurchielane.com/

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