R.I.P. Northway Acres

I wish I had been to Northway Acres more often. Because now this mom-and-pop craft shop in a doublewide trailer is no more.

This is Northway Acres. Actually, this is what is left of Northway Acres, which was about 15 miles north of Syracuse. It was in business about 40 years until last summer.

I learned about Northway Acres about five years ago from the competition. A clerk at Michaels pulled me aside when I couldn't find the right beads for a lampshade project. "Northway Acres," she whispered, and told me how to get there.

So, I drove north, past ugly strip malls, old hotels and an abandoned drive-in movie theater (now the site of the planet's six zillionith Walmart). I remember feeling completely unimpressed when I reached my destination, which appeared to be nothing more than a doublewide trailer attached to a 1960s ranch home, surrounded by more doublewides. Which might explain the "mobile homes" reference on the sign, I guess.

But once inside, I was transported to a vintage craft wonderland. The walls were lined with every type of bead that you could think of, plus millinery leaves and flowers, Christmas odds and ends, sequins, ribbon and lots of retro cake decorations. Best of all, the prices were insanely cheap, and then they were 40 percent off of that every single day. The only other place that compares is Boleks, another retro craft store that I visit every time I get to my in-laws in Ohio.

Here are just a couple of my Northway finds:

Pink "velvet" leaves and paper lily-of-the-valley flowers.

A whole care of tiny silver rick rack, some foil holly leaves and some glittered bells.

Cuter than cute retro baby cupcake picks.

I would venture up to Northway Acres every so often, usually when I had some excuse to be in the area. Which is probably why I must have missed its closing last summer. I didn't know what had happened until I saw a notice for an auction. I would have gone but the auction was canceled after one person bought everything before the opening bid. And, no, it wasn't me.

Over the weekend, I happened to be in the area, so I drove past Northway Acres, just for old time's sake. The place look completely charmless, just like the first time I saw it. It was a dreary day, and sensing my sadness, it started to rain. Northway Acres, I only wish I had visited a lot more often.

Comments

[laurie - magpie ethel]

I love that the Michaels employee took you aside to whisper "Northway Acres"...sounds like my kind of place. I wish I could say I bought the contents of the store prior to the auction...but alas it wasn't me either! DRAT!

[barbara]

I'm weeping. If only I'd known...

[Dime Store Thrift]

How sad to see it gone...I always get a bit weepy about these sorts of places.