JUNQUE YARD ANTIQUES MICHELLE STEWART, Owner
For Michelle Stewart, owner of The Junque Yard, busi- ness is a mission. Literally. “At 27, I gave my heart to the Lord,” Stewart said. She started getting involved in the church’s ministry, espe- cially children’s, and began doing missionary work. “My heart became a missionary heart,” Stewart said with a smile. Missionary work is expensive, and Stewart began earning supplementary income by repurposing furniture and doing crafts to sell. This led to “boothing,” or selling in booths at various locations.
“It was fun and it became my testimony—taking a bunch of junk and repurposing for His glory,” Stewart recalled. About three years ago, Stewart started researching opening her own business. She learned that because of today’s tight economy, second-hand or resale is one of the top three businesses in America. Last year she decided to open her own store, and The Junque Yard opened its doors Sept. 1, 2012. “I’m living the American dream, my dream as a busi- ness owner doing what I love,” Stewart said. She decided to have vendors because she wanted to be able to do for other people what had been done for her, to offer space and allow them to sell their wares. Out of 100 booths, the Junque Yard now has 86 vendors selling a wide variety of items for the home and for per- sonal use.
Michelle wanted the Junque Yard to offer something a little different than other stores in Columbus. They are limited on thrift sale items and high on the creative ele- ment. Even the store has a unique look, with architec- tural elements used for the booths. They offer everything from middle to high-end furniture, to clothing, local and folk art, and homemade soap and jewelry. There’s even a nut man, who sends a mouth-watering aroma wafting throughout the building.
Her bywords are “unique vintique,” Michelle said. They are vintage, antique, shabby chic and art. “It’s where old is the new new,” Michelle quipped. The heart of her business is giving new life to old things. This involves taking something someone no longer wants or needs and repurposing it for some- one else’s life. The Junque Yard prides itself on offering a unique shopping experience, which Michelle described as “kind of a treasure hunt.” The booths are arranged attractively, enticing shoppers to find the treasures within. “It’s fun, exciting and inspiring,” Michelle said. “It’s very rewarding—and a lot of hard work.”
The foundation underlying her work is to make herself available for what
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God wants in her life, which includes the children’s minis- try at First Assembly in Phenix City. “I have the freedom to touch more lives,” she added.
In addition to running the business, Michelle still paints
and works on furniture. “I love doing that,” she said, add- ing, “I incorporate the flaws in my pieces into the (fin- ished) piece. It shows you don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”
The Junque Yard is also the area’s exclusive location offering CeCe Caldwell’s Natural Chalk & Clay Paint, which is made in the USA and is totally green. “Anyone can use it to bring new life to anything they have in their home,” Michelle said. “And you can get it in Columbus now.”
Her challenge to vendors is to keep their offerings affordable, and she aids in this process by only charg- ing them rent, not a consignment fee. We strive to offer “affordable chic,” Michelle said. In this economy, with so many people struggling, Michelle wants everyone to be able to afford character and quality. This is her way of paying back the community.
“My heart is to make a fair profit,” Michelle said. It is her hope to actually bring booth rents down, and she hopes other business owners will follow suit. The Junque Yard Antiques is at 513 St. Columbus, just behind the
14th
McDonald’s on Veterans downtown. Visit them Monday through Saturday 10 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Call, drop by or follow them on Facebook.
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