By GEORGE FJELD
BRANDON-Do you love exploring and finding a treasure? Cruising through a place so full of interesting things that time slips by quickly? Searching for a present for the hard-to-buy-for friend or relative? Repurposing objects in interesting ways? Brandon has the place for you!
Janet and Joel Mondlak have expanded their unique shop on Center Street to include all of the old Aubuchon Hardware space. Now, instead of looking for a tool or part to complete your project, you can shop in a store that has something for everyone. Across the Street opened in downtown Brandon in May 2020, on the heels of the Covid-related retail lockdown being lifted. The store sells eclectic, unusual, funky, and fun older and newer things. Janet and Joel opened the store at the time with the thought of it being a “pop-up” shop before they returned to living and “workamping” in their RV as they traveled the US, as they had been doing since selling their Brandon home in 2016. After several months back in Brandon in 2020, the Mondlaks made the decision to stay in town and to continue operating the antiques and collectibles shop.
The amazing inventory of antiques and collectibles at Across the Street ranges from $1 “smalls” to larger pieces of art and furniture Photos by George Fjeld
The shop is designed to appeal to people of all ages and financial situations, with the tagline “From smalls to furniture; more than a century’s worth of treasures with prices starting at $1.” In the world of antiques, there are specialists and generalists. The Mondlaks are generalists and prefer to offer a larger assortment of objects and to not specialize in any one genre. Beginning June 1, Across the Street expanded into the adjoining storefront, more than doubling their floor square footage from 1500 to more than 3000. With the expansion, the Mondlaks are able to offer a wider variety of items, including more furniture, home décor, larger primitives, and a greater selection of art.
The Mondlaks have invited two other dealers to sell out of the location, and are pleased to offer the whimsical offerings of friends and vintage vendors Jacquie Riesterer and Kelley Elwell. Jacquie and Kelley sell under the business names Tipsy Gypsy Vintage and Rustic Weepy Willow, respectively. Joel has been buying and selling antiques in the Brandon area since the couple moved here in the late 1980s. His once hobby-business has continued to grow over the years. The Brandon store is now the full-time employment for both Janet and Joel in addition to their thriving online business with more than 1300 active listings (check out their ebay store: Vermont Eye Candy). Across the Street is located at 12 Center St. and at this time of the year is open daily from 11 am – 4 pm, closed Tuesdays.
