Ye Olde What-Not Shoppe, a new addition to downtown Stuart, officially opened its doors Dec. 4. The store offers a variety of vintage furniture, books, décor, glassware, jewelry, and other unique items.
Owner Tara Tramonte said the shop reflects her passion for entrepreneurship and her long history in business.
“It reflects who I am, and to have a store reflects what my drive is. I’m very entrepreneurial. I’ve been all my life in businesses of every imaginable type since 1970,” Tramonte said.
This is Tramonte’s third retail venture, and she said she enjoys creating a space where customers can browse, feel inspired, and find treasures at affordable prices.
“If they see something they like, they can buy it – I keep my prices very low because I can,” she said.
Tramonte credits her business partner, Tim Lucas, for helping launch the store. Lucas, who also operates God’s Torches Inc. in the shop’s basement, assisted with moving and setting up furniture.
“He’s a contractor, so we came together on this, and he has been like an angel for me. He’s moved all this furniture in, he did it all single-handedly, and he has contributed a fair amount in the furniture area,” she said.
The furniture on display, much of it for sale, largely came from Tramonte’s personal collection.
“For the time being, it’s a type of downsizing. I have been a collector since 1970 when I opened my first store,” she said, recalling her experience importing antiques from France.
Tramonte shared a story about a shipment of antiques that sank in Baltimore Harbor due to a lack of insurance. She speculated about the possibility of piracy being involved, which she said was not uncommon at the time.
The shop will soon expand to include the Book Nook Café, which Tramonte aims to open in the first quarter of 2025.
“It’s going to be in the back of the building, and we’ve got a little area for stools where people can come and sit and gather and have some espresso,” she said.
The café will serve a variety of espressos and lattes, including a signature Cuban espresso, café Cubano. Desserts will also be on the menu.
In addition, Tramonte is working with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to offer a limited Happy Hour on Fridays and Saturdays, aligning with events at the nearby Star Theatre.
Community Classes and Events
A ceramic sculpture artist, Tramonte plans to offer monthly sculpture workshops starting in 2025. As a nonprofit, the classes will be free, though attendees will need to cover the cost of materials such as glaze, clay, and kiln use.
Once Ye Olde What-Not Shoppe joins the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, Tramonte hopes to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Ye Olde What-Not Shoppe is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
For more information, visit the store’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/YeOldeWhat-NotShoppe or call (276) 288-4469. Those interested in sculpture workshops can email Tramonte at ttramonte@yahoo.com.
