BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – A new antique mall called Peddler’s Antiques and Collectibles held its grand opening in Beckley.
The mall has already had a decent number of vendors move in, as well as a few small businesses. The co-owner Thomas Moseley is trying to turn it into a non-traditional antique mall, somewhere folks can both shop and spend their free time.
“We have revitalized the former Beckley Antique Mall which was closed for three-and-a-half years. And we wanted to bring something that people are used to having here as far as the antique side of it, plus something new,” Moseley said.
This building has been empty for almost four years. But now after many months of hard work, multiple vendors have set up shop and it’s livelier than it’s ever been. There’s room for 70 vendors in the main area of the mall, as well as 12 more in the dedicated pop culture section.
“We’ve got the traditional antique mall with vendors, estates and consignors. And then back here in the last third of the store we wanted a pop culture center.”
In the pop culture center is room for both vendors and dedicated businesses. There’s going to be a comic shop as well as a retro game and toy store called Gamester’s Paradise. The owner Shannon Ingram says they’ve turned their store into a hangout space for people of all ages.
“We’re gonna provide gaming just casually and tournaments and hopefully a hangout. I’ve had some of the local college students drop in. So it’s just a fun place to hang out as an alternative during these challenging times,” Ingram said.
Other vendors at the mall include nationally-listed artists, vintage furniture sellers and collectors of all kinds. Moseley says everything’s coming together nicely after months of hard work, but there’s still plenty more to do.
“Anything worth having there’s a lot of work involved, and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But it’s worth it. And just to see people come in happy that there’s something here in Beckley, excited to be here, it makes it worth it.”
Peddlers Antiques and Collectibles is still developing and finding new vendors to set up shop. But after nearly four years of the building being empty, this new endeavor provides a great chance for local sellers to make a change and start something of their own.
The new antique mall is located at 268 George Street in Beckley, and is open every day of the week.