You may find almost anything at the Shops on West Ridge
When I first moved here, I heard tales of the Hilton Co-op and discovered that it had become the Craft Antique Co-op, re-located to less than three miles from where I live. Well, the Hilton Co-op has morphed again and it has become the Shops on West Ridge, just in time for the holidays.
For those who loved the Hilton Co-op and the Craft Antique Co-op, the re-branded Shops on West Ridge will feel charmingly familiar, yet more contemporary. For those who have never been there, time to check it out!
You'll find gifts for men, women and children
When shopping there, you never know what you’ll find. I often visit when I’m looking for innovative ideas for hard-to-buy-for people. For my brother-in-law and his grandson, I’ve found new designer hunting knives for their knife collections. For a vegan niece, a new purse made out of recycled materials. Several pieces of favorite jewelry are from the the vender “It’s in the Bag” and my black art deco-style office credenza was a treasure found among the furniture selection that includes vintage as well as new. On this last visit, some of the more exotic items I saw included a steer skull straight out of a western film, several antique spinning wheels guaranteed to make Rumpelstiltskin weep, and a hand-painted wooden loveseat.
Each "shop" has its own unique ambience
Of the 200+ vendors (all under one roof), I recognized many, but there were also a number of new shops, as well as others in the process of installation. The Shops on West Ridge offer a cross between a giant indoor flea market and a shopping emporium. Some shops are carefully decorated as if you’ve stepped into a room in someone’s home, or a quaint shop in old London. For others, the plan is more haphazard with anything from jewelry, vintage cookie jars, collectible car models, holiday décor and vintage woodworking tools stocking the shelves.
Take a sneak preview of the backdrop for holiday festivities
The Craft Antique Co-op was known for was their season-long Dickens Festival, celebrating the holidays, and the folks at The Shops on West Ridge are already prepping for the holidays. When I was there last week, John Haldoupis, one of the shop owners who also happens to be the Artistic Director at Blackfriars Theatre in Rochester, was in the midst of painting a stunning mural that will be the backdrop for the Shops on Ridge Road’s holiday festivities. We’ll be interviewing John in the next month to find out more about him and his multi-faceted career.
The Shops on West Ridge are located at 3200 West Ridge Road in Greece, NY and they are open Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Their Annual Dickens Festival begins on November 5, 2011, so be sure to check out their extended schedule for the holiday season.
Willow Bend features home and garden decor