A 40-year dream turned into reality for Lynette Kerlin as she and her family unwrapped Christmas paper from the doors of Antique Mercantile five minutes before the store officially opened on December 16, 2017. Forty years earlier, Lynette and her husband sold their first antiques while looking for extra income. They heard wagon wheels were selling for high $100 each in California, so they borrowed $500 from First National Bank, bought and disassembled two wagons, traveled to a California antique show, and made a profit of $400 after paying off the loan. The next year, they borrowed $1,000 for another successful trip around the Midwest.
While teaching first grade for almost 30 years, Lynette bought and sold antiques during the summer to supplement her income. During this time, she never gave up on her dream of opening her own antique general store, praying and searching for the right property after retirement. She then received a perfectly timed call from a Downtown Brookings landlord, who had saved her number for two years. Lynette took this as a divine sign to open the Antique Mercantile, dusting off the shelves for her dream store she had kept in storage for 23 years.
Antique Mercantile is inspired by the old Parkston merchantile store J & A Kayser, where Lynette vividly remembers her mother purchasing fabric and groceries. Lynette believes it’s important to know our roots and honor the hard work of our ancestors by preserving history. Her front window displays pay tribute to her seamstress, gardening mother as well as her dairy-farming father. As you walk through her store, Lynette can share a thousand stories associated with historical items. Parts of the store reflect stories from her life, prompt stories from customers, or spark curiosity for historical research. Sharing her knowledge through both presentations and individual interactions combines Lynette’s passions for education and historical preservation.
Lynette’s collection highlights sections on education, fashion, kitchenware, decorations, and many other treasures. Her customers appreciate her attempts to collect rare items dating as far back as the late 1800s, and they often revisit the store whenever in Brookings. A big reason customers come back is because of the experience of shopping at Antique Mercantile. Lynette’s focus is on making a positive impact on whoever stops by her store, and she loves helping customers hunt for personal treasures, model vintage fashion, or share precious memories sparked by unique items. Waste not, want not, and walk down memory lane by shopping at Antique Mercantile in Downtown Brookings.