Woman gets fresh start selling old treasures

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2000

After an 18-year career as a nurse, Vicki Woods was ready for a change. She opened A New Beginning consignment business but sold it after a year and a half. It wasn't the beginning she wanted. But from that experience, she came to realize what she did want -- a shop full of antiques, furnishings and gifts.

"I told my husband and he said we'll just do it," said Mrs. Woods, 55, who moved here seven years ago from Anderson, Ind., and lives in the Seminole area.

The couple went to auctions and estate sales and for a year collected dining room tables and chairs, bedroom suites, desks, living room furniture, housewares, hand-painted chests, china, old oil lamps and candelabras -- enough stuff to fill two rented storage units and a bedroom and garage at their home.

Then they began searching for a location. "It took us six months to find this house," Mrs. Woods said of the seven-room, 1,200-square-foot single-story house at 7662 131st St.

They did some refurbishing -- green paint and blond paneling covers the once-white walls. Mrs. Woods' husband, Sonny, and her parents, Cliff and Nellie Weston, of Palm Harbor helped with the work. The Woods filled the rooms with their collection, as well as new items -- handwoven rugs, handmade and painted wood birdhouses, throws, pillows, metalcrafts, handpainted mailboxes, candles and handmade stuffed dolls. Some of the new things came from Pat Pehl's antiques shop in Ozona, Mrs. Woods said. "I also buy from several local crafters, as well as some Midwest artisans," she said. The shop's fancy floral arrangements are made by a local florist, she said.

For an investment of $30,000, Mrs. Woods said, Thru The Woods opened Sept. 9. Prices range from $1 for an antique bottle opener to $329 for a mahogany fireplace mantel to $650 for a walnut dining room table and chairs.

The name came from a discussion with a friend. "I wanted the shop to have a cottage, woodsy feeling," she said. "Through the woods to grandmother's house came up and, I thought, "it's cute -- that's it.' "

Thru The Woods' hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. Call 319-6500.

Club plans food basket contest

The Seminole Junior Woman's Club is sponsoring its second annual "Share Our Spirit" holiday food basket contest for the Seminole area business community. The baskets will be given to local needy families selected through the Pinellas County school system.

Participants should design and produce a holiday food basket with basic non-perishable food groups and essentials, then add their own special touches. Cash donations or grocery gift certificates can be used for turkeys, hams, fresh fruit and bread that will be added to the baskets when they are given out.

There will be awards for best holiday theme, the most creative, the most unusual, the largest basket and the overall winner. They will be judged from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at Seminole Mall. The deadline for registering baskets is Nov. 17. For information, call Kristen Oliphant at 596-9601 or Jo Winters at 398-0558.

News of real estate

Louis Reiter has joined Adamo Realty, 7676 Seminole Blvd., as a sales associate. He worked 30 years as a medical technician and has lived for 14 years in Pinellas County. His father's 40-year career in real estate inspired him to start his own career.

Mark McEntire is the newest sales associate at Century 21 Real Estate Champions, 4350 Duhme Road and 9021 Oakhurst Road. He has lived 28 years in Seminole. He is a graduate of Osceola High and received a degree in management from University of South Florida.

St. Petersburg native Elizabeth Fish has joined the sales staff of Century 21 Grant Realty, 6450 Seminole Blvd. She has a degree in nursing and previously worked in health care.

Chamber plans business lunch

The Greater Seminole Area Chamber of Commerce is having its monthly business lunch at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Banquet Masters, 8100 Park Blvd. Guest speaker will be Sue Cimerman of the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. Cost is $10 with reservation or $12 at the door. Call the chamber at 392-3245.

-- Know of a new or unique business in the greater Seminole area? If so, tell us about it. Send items to Seminole Business, Seminole Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756 or fax it to 445-4119. We also are interested in promotions, expansions and major new contracts. Photos can be sent, but not all will be used and they cannot be returned.

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