The Classic Vault Emporium has been a main stay in St. George’s core, appealing to visitors for four decades.
Originally an antique furniture retailer in the late 1980s and eventually evolving into a multi-faceted co-op in the last several years. Janine Ward, who is the treasurer and the liaison between the owner of the building and the vendors, detailed the history of the business.
“The classic Vault Emporium was founded by Peter and Jean Hastings. They immigrated here from England in the 1980s. It started strictly as an antique furniture store. They refinished Victorian era furniture and brought those pieces back to life. The Classic Vault Emporium was a destination and St George was more of a tourist town before…people would come from various villages from around the area to St. George, and then they would wander the core which was hustling bustling with cafes, tea shops and vintage furniture and antique stores,” Ward said. “By the 1990s Jean started to evolve the store after her husband’s passing [and] opened it up to vendors…wanting to have an eclectic group showcasing all their collections or their craftsmanship. And we are continuing to honor their commitment to what they were doing in St. George today.”
However, Linda Watson, who is the Vendor Co-ordinator at the Emporium, who along with Ward started at the Emporium in 2022, explained the vendors that are there.
“I started out selling teapots and antique items and Janine has got a booth with home decor items. At the moment we have various vendors here. We have one fellow who makes hiking sticks…crafting them from wood. We have a lady that does jewelry [and] along with her daughter-in-law they sell their jewelry from two booths,” she noted. “Although she will be leaving the shop soon, we have had a vendor who makes blankets for animals, so they’re tactile blankets that dogs really like. We have another lady that makes her own purses, gloves and personal items. We’ve got a vendor that makes leather wallets, key chains, and other items. We have an excellent painter here too and another vendor that makes really nice lavender soaps [and] various kinds of bath salts. And we have another group that makes unique boxes from old cards donated to them, which they sell to raise money of cancer research.”
For Watson, the Emporium is all about community and getting people together.
“It’s a community store that everyone can come in and experience and explore all the craftsmen and the vendors…and really get to see all of their skills and their passions under one roof, which makes it very unique and special. We also have a lovely little sitting area with a couch and books at the back of the shop where people can go, sit down and enjoy the spot and get a chance to meet others,” she said.
Ward continued Watson’s sentiments about community.
“Our co-op with all of our vendors is a lovely partnership…we support one another [and] showing the community how important it is to purchase locally. I think it shows our loyalty and how well our team works together as a group. After 30 years, the [store] has definitely withstood the test of time, regardless of the economy. It feels that our shoppers and our customers that come into the store are very loyal. We definitely have return customers that come in the store regularly, if not weekly,” explained Ward.
As well, there is a strong history behind the building where the Emporium is located and also its name.
“The building was built in 1888 and it was originally a local hardware store called Longs Hardwood store. If you were to ever come into the building, the original peg boards all around the perimeter of the store, which you would see the exterior walls have had a pegboard system installed, which is still existing today…they would hang metal racks off of with all of the merchandise and products. Although these pegboards have been painted over, all our vendors still use it. And there are other little bits of the original and heritage of the building still there like the front door of the building is the original from the hardware store,” Ward detailed. “Peter and Jean actually started on the corner where Abigail Tea Room is today, and that used to be a bank which had a vault in it…so that’s where the name the Classic Vault Emporium came from.”
For Watson, the shop has always been a special place for her, even when she was a customer.
“I used to shop there for years….and when I went there, I always thought to myself that it was a place I wanted to be a part of because there was something special about it and always gave me a sense of home and community. Then when a vendor space was available, I decided to do it, and be a part of the Emporium,” she said. “And from there, Janine and I wanted to keep it going. We really wanted to see this place not only survive, but thrive…because we wanted a place where people would come in and feel at home, and find things that they wouldn’t at any other place. It’s one of those places that if you don’t buy it now, it might be gone the next time you come. And it’s a place where people have been coming here for years and enjoying what we have been trying to do.”
Nevertheless, Ward wants to continue showcasing the local talent with the community.
“This is my happy place and I think a lot of vendors feel this way too [and it’s amazing to be] representing all of them…showing their crafts, expertise and their passions with the community. We’ve ended up building long term relationships with some of the clients we’ve helped…and we have that beautiful seating area in the back where we’ve had local shop owners come, take their breaks back there and hang out and have tea. And overall, it’s all about creating an experience for those who come here and it’s certainly become a happy place for many,” Ward said.
