Downtown Greensboro has a new corner store at Broad Street and Main. It is a prime location for the area, and it is now a signature antique store offering antiques, accessories and design complements for the home. Owners Chase McGriff and Trey Daniels have been passionate collectors throughout the years and scour small towns and big cities looking for just the right pieces to bring to their new store.
Broad St. and Main features several period pieces throughout its 1,200-square-foot location. Daniels is the former owner of Bend the Trend, a popular boutique of home furnishings on Reynolds parkway. Both he and Daniels offer design service for the home and have a portfolio of clientele in the area.
“We opened in April,” Daniels said. “We are excited to bring an assortment of quality antiques to the market. We shop both the Atlanta Mart and High Point, North Carolina, at least two times a year. Those visits, as well as looking through our small towns, produce wonderful finds that we bring here to Greensboro for our customers.”
At quick glance, the store is a charming example of all types of period pieces, including early French, Primitives, Early American and porcelains of Asian influence. Oriental rug weaves, unique lamps of all sizes and colorful oils and prints adorn the space as well and compliment the overall space. Early American chests feature prominently flanking an old Grandfather clock of early 1800s origin. Period and hard to find burnt bamboo chairs are seen in the storefront.
“We looked to Greensboro to bring refined pieces to the market,” Daniels said. “We feature products as well at the Madison Mart in two adjoining booths where we have had tremendous success. But we wanted to bring in the added element of design to our Greensboro store.”
And they have. Both McGriff and Daniels are working on a redesign of a beautiful property in East Greensboro known as “Greystone.” Situated on over 10 bucolic acres, Greystone is a 1970s-built property designed to replicate an English Tudor complete with dark mahogany woods, gabled roof and embellished doorways. Its walkways feature imported stone throughout the landscape of the property. The redesign is expected to take several months.
The partners would like to take occupancy of the historic upstairs loft of the property to feature a gallery. McGriff is an experienced collector of distinguished art, and he has a keen eye for what will work for both customers and the business.
“A local gallery would be unique here,” Daniels said. “It could showcase existing and in progress pieces from both local and regional artists. It would complement the business and showcase both the inventory and offerings in the area.” Daniels is an experienced realtor, well known in the area having been one for over 27 years with both Sotheby’s and Atlanta Fine Homes. He brings the business acumen to Broad St. and Main while McGriff provides the merchandising and staging to the store. Both, however, enjoy the hunt throughout the south for unique pieces.
“Birmingham, Alabama, is our number one market for antique acquisition,” he said. “In Birmingham, we have often found many southern-style antiques like early American from circa 1750s to 1850s, spanning 100 years. Other favorites we have discovered are Washington, Georgia, and Ocala, Florida. Each city has been a virtual treasure trove if you know what to look for.
Additionally, Daniels and McGriff take in consignment from owners selling property in the area. Currently, the store has several pieces from a local estate featuring early needlepoint French chairs. Both owners are thrilled with the success of the existing and new clientele following them to this new corner store and expect it to be a winning corner anchor to Greensboro downtown development plans.