Eclectic surprises await visitors to Rare Finds

Bret Weinshank of Roxbury fell under the spell of antiquing while he was attending business school in New London.

Mr. Weinshank, 24, worked weekends during those years selling antiques at the Elephant's Trunk flea market in New Milford for the father of a young boy he coached in swimming while attending Mitchell College.

"I saw that my friends who graduated from business school before me were having trouble finding work,' Mr. Weinshank said. "So I decided to start my own business."

Estate sales, auctions throughout New England, and flea markets became his haunts, as he searched for just the right items to stock a store.

In January, he opened Rare Finds in Lore's Plaza on Route 7 in New Milford.

From a brass diver's helmet fashioned into a champane bottle holder to two small wooden theater mannequins, Rare Finds offers an eclectic selection of antiques and reproductions.

A scaled model of the Wright Brothers' airplane hangs suspended from the ceiling, grabbing the attention of any visitor. Perhaps the most expensive item in the shop -- selling for $1,000 -- it catches the eye.

"My items are priced to sell," said Mr. Weinshank as he displayed a brass soap dish priced at $18. "I also carry reproductions that are of good quality because they can be priced for less than actual antiques."

Mr. Weinshank sees the Lore's Plaza location of Rare Finds as a start. He plans to sell at the Elephant's Trunk on weekends in the summer and to sell at the two-mile long Brimfield flea market in Massachusetts for two weeks this summer as well.

He eventually plans to expand to a larger store site.

For now, Rare Finds is tucked in the north corner of Lore's Plaza. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To contact the store, call 860-355-1660. Mr. Weinshank can be reached at 203-241-4437.