Local store home to more than just antiques

At the intersection of Madison Street and Kirkwood Avenue, there is a store that stands out from the white-washed, brown-roofed houses all around.

It’s The Garret Antiques store.

At the door of this castle-like building is a sign that reads, “Parents, now would be the time to take your child’s hand.”

Upon entering, a bell rings loudly, and Nancy Garrett steps out of a room labeled “private.”

“Come right on in,” she says. “Take a look around.”

There are cabinets, shelves and tables holding everything from rocks and minerals to baby dolls stuffed in bear suits to little trinkets of china and pottery.

There’s even more upstairs, which shelters bigger items such as antique furniture and lamps.

Resident Mary Yearington stopped by the store to explore and was surprised to see how much there was.

“There’s a ton of stuff in here,” she said. “You could come over and over again and still not see everything.”

Yearington said she likes to go to stores like The Garret because she enjoys looking at all the different things from the past.

“I like to go to antique stores because my parents are deceased, and it brings back memories,” she said.

Nancy and Dennis Garrett came to Bloomington in 1956 to study at IU.
After graduating with an anthropology major, Dennis realized he didn’t know what he wanted to do. He worked several odd jobs until he found a small antique store at North Walnut Street that was up for sale.

Fueled by Dennis’ enthusiasm, the couple opened their first antique store in 1964.
“I was never a collector myself until my husband (was), and it rubs off on you,” Nancy said. “You just get involved.”

After being in business for nine years, they saw a unique building on Kirkwood Avenue was up for sale.

“We thought that place would be ideal for an antiques store,” Nancy said. “We figured we could live there, too.”

Dennis named the store “The Garret” to play off of the idea that an attic — or garret — is often where one finds interesting, old things. It is also very similar to Garrett — their last name.

“I think it’s pretty clever, myself,” Nancy said.

The Garretts were interested in older things because antiques represented quality to them.

“So much is mass produced now, and everyone ends up with the same stuff, but we have love for our merchandise,” she said.

Nancy soon learned that keeping an antiques store was a full-time job. There would be no backing out.

“We got stuck,” she said.

Nancy and her husband kept the shop running with the help of their four daughters and son. Dara Garrett, their eldest daughter, said she was expected to help out at a very young age.

“We were a close-knit family, and from the time we could walk or hold a duster, we all had to work and help out at the store,” Dara Garrett said.

When her husband passed away in July 2006, Nancy found herself struggling. She received support and help in her eldest daughter, who came to live and work with her at the store.

“I like being with my mom. I love doing things together with her,” Dara said. “I like feeling needed.”

She  said she also enjoys seeing a variety of different people every day.
“You get to meet all sorts of interesting people at this job,” she said. “It’s very
educational.”

Nancy recalled a man who, as a little boy, visited the store with his father. Thirty years later, he came back holding the hand of his son. He wanted his son to be able to experience this “cool” place that he himself had known.

“That’s when you know you’re doing something right,” she said. “I enjoy what I’m
doing.”

After Dennis passed away, friends asked Nancy if she planned to give up the shop.
“I told them I had no intention of doing that,” she said. “As long as I have my health, I’m going to keep running this store. I can’t give it up.”