The Depot Station, a new retail shop in downtown Stuart, is now officially open, occupying the former Plantiques building. The Patrick County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome the new business to the Stuart business community.
Karen Cummings and her husband, Todd, purchased the building two years ago while operating their moving company, Todd’s Easy Moves, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Over time, the couple amassed a collection of furniture through their moving business and decided to transition into selling it.
“We started fixing up the building and opened the store to sell the furniture because we’re retiring from the moving business,” Karen Cummings said. “This is our way of slowing things down and taking a more retail-focused approach.”
The couple sources some of their inventory from charity auctions in Amish country, while other items were left behind by clients who no longer needed them. Depot Station offers a variety of new and older furniture pieces, as well as records, which Cummings said have been a surprising hit.
“We have a lot of records, and I hate to say it, but they’re the best-selling thing,” she said.
Though furniture is the main focus, many customers have gravitated toward the shop’s selection of books, records, and knick-knacks. The Depot Station sells bookcases, chairs, living room furniture, dining sets, bedroom sets, lamps, doors, windows, China sets, and decorative items.
“We’ve got more stuff in storage, and as we sell what’s on display, we’ll bring out more,” Cummings said.
Since its September opening, the store has attracted a steady stream of visitors, including customers building cabins who are interested in the furniture for future use. Cummings said she’s thrilled with the community’s warm reception and enthusiasm for the shop.
“I’ve had a bunch of people come in just to look around, and they’re really excited about it,” she said. “Everybody up here is super nice.”
The Depot Station underwent significant refurbishment before its opening. The couple received a façade grant from the Patrick County Economic Development Authority (EDA), which helped cover improvements to the building’s exterior, including painting, landscaping, and parking lot renovations.
“We spent over $20,000, and the EDA is paying $5,000 of it,” Cummings said. A check presentation from the EDA is planned for later this year.
Cummings said she is excited about the transition to retail and plans to launch a Facebook page for the store soon.
For more information, call the Depot Station at (276) 692-8069.
