The story behind Shelby's new décor shop

Tony Leckey said finding antiques and treasures is in his blood.

Leckey recently opened Vintage Homes at 820 W. Warren St. after moving to Shelby from Georgia around four months ago.

Not only has he had his own shops for 16 years, but he is the second generation to be in the business.

His father was an antique dealer and as a boy, he would spend summers with his dad in Maine going to antique shows.

“My dad was very creative, and he taught me to do a U-turn if he saw something good on the side of the street,” Leckey said. “It’s just in my blood.”

Leckey has spent the past 25 years in Georgia before deciding to move to Shelby. He said he had just turned 50 and had asked himself if he was happy enough to not make any changes and stay in the same place - literally and figuratively - for the rest of his life. He ended up deciding to move. He said he wanted to be near family in the area and decided he was going to choose either the mountains or the beach. Shelby seemed like the right fit. He said he had both friends and family in the area and fell in love with it.

Leckey said Vintage Home has a wide variety of decorative objects, furniture and lighting that range from the antique to newer.

“I’m very eclectic myself. I gravitate toward individual items instead of a broad style. There’s no rhyme or reason. I have old stuff, new stuff and everything in between,” he said.

He was quick to add that it is not an antique store, but rather a mix of old and new pieces, reflecting how people live and the things they want in their homes.

“This business is more of a lifestyle,” he said. “You have to really love it..”

He said he is obsessed with his chosen profession and even when he goes home, he’s constantly looking online for new items and treasures.

“I love being here,” he said. “I can’t wait to get here every morning. I live and breathe it.”

Leckey said he takes joy in finding things that he knows people will love and cherish for many years to come. He said he’ll go into people’s houses and see things that he sold them years before.

“People should make their house their sanctuary,” he said.

He said Vintage Home is all about making people’s lives - and homes - more beautiful and personal as well as finding things that are great value for the money.

“We’ll be adding more and more over time, it will evolve a little bit,” he said. “It’s a wonderful place where people can come, just visit or have lunch with their girlfriends and stop by and find something they never knew they needed.”

He said some customers come in every week, looking for new treasures and deals.

“This is their drug of choice,” he said. “It’s relaxing to them.”

He said people come on their lunch break to shop, browse and escape the stress of the day.

He said he likes to play music, keeps a pleasant candle burning and has flowers and a flag outside the shop.

In addition to creating a fun and enjoyable experience for his customers, Leckey said he also believes it’s important to give back, and he has participated and held clothing and coat drives and other efforts. He hopes to find and meet needs in Shelby as well.

“If every little business in town did just one thing a year, so many needs would be met in the community,” he said.

Leckey said he’s passionate about what he does, being invested in the community and also about one more thing.

“Come and see us at Vintage Home, and please spay and neuter your animals,” he said.

People can also sell their own furniture and decorative items to Vintage Home.

Call or text 704-740-7072 for more information.

The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can also find Vintage Home on Facebook .

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: The story behind Shelby's new décor shop