Nita Jean's Antiques & Museum brings history and art to Spring Lake

SPRING LAKE — A new store in Cumberland County blends antiques, art and history while showcasing local artists and creativity.

Nita Jean's Antiques & Museum, a veteran-owned and operated store in Spring Lake, was founded by Patrick Morrison and his wife, Luz, as a tribute to Patrick’s parents, Nita Jean and Raymond Preston Morrison, and the collection of treasures the elder Morrisons gathered during their lifetime travels. The store at 104 S. Second St. in Spring Lake offers a diverse selection of artifacts, antiques and collectibles from around the world. In addition to the shop's extensive inventory, Nita Jean’s features an art collection, showcasing paintings and sculptures by local artists, Morrison said.

He said the shop also functions as a museum, displaying family heirlooms and cherished items that are not available for purchase. Morrison said every piece represents seven months of hard work, thousands of dollars and countless U-Haul trips to his mom's house to cull through her collection.

"Mom was overwhelmed at the caliber of what we did with her and Dad's collection," Morrison said. "It was worth every hour and trip to see the happiness on mom's face as she walked around and looked at all of her collection cleaned and displayed for the world to see."

Origin story

Morrison said his father enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served in World War II before transitioning to the Marine Corps 11 years later. Both of his parents were born during the Great Depression — Raymond in 1925 and Nita Jean in 1931. Morrison said this background instilled in them a deep appreciation for collecting souvenirs from their travels. During his father's military career, the couple enjoyed finding mementos from places like Japan, Scotland and England, as well as various regions across the U.S.

"Mom's words were, 'Somebody might need this one day,'" he said.

Morrison said that the family's Volkswagen camper was constantly filled with interesting finds from each new stop throughout Europe. He said the store carries items like a Japanese handcrafted pottery set from Okinawa and Taiwanese furniture, now featured in the store’s display.

Morrison said that after he joined the Air Force, he and his Army wife made Spring Lake their new home and set down roots. He said he hopes that Nita Jean's Antiques & Museum will enrich the local community and bring new life to the area.

"We just wanted to add to the community," Morrison said.

Documenting the past and supporting local artists

Carolyn Mott, store manager and an Air Force veteran, said that in addition to organizing the store by category, her favorite part of the job is researching each item and writing as many historical facts as possible on the back of the price tag. When she runs out of space, she adds the details to their inventory book, allowing customers to learn more about the item they’re considering purchasing.

"We have over 1,500 items tagged on the floor and that's a lot of research," Mott said. "We try to keep it very organized so that if someone is looking for something specific, we can lead them straight to it."

Morrison said the walls of the store hold his parents' collection of paintings, including a first-place winning piece created by his father after attending a painting class — an activity Nita Jean encouraged her husband to try, much to his reluctance. Morrison said that his mother was always engaged in crafting and art throughout her life.

"With the museum portion, we also have a little corner for my Dad where we have all his (military) awards and pictures of him," Morrison said. "It's all to give honor to Mom and Dad. It really is."

The details

Address: 104 S. Second St., Spring Lake

Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Contact: 910-920-1032

On the web: Search "Nita Jean's Antiques & Gift Shop" on Facebook

Reporter Lizmary Evans covers growth and development for The Fayetteville Observer. You can reach her at LEvans@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Nita Jean's Antiques & Museum brings history and art to Spring Lake