Collectibles, antiques and anything that is vintage.
That’s what you’ll find at the YQR Vintique Market in the heart of Regina’s Warehouse District.
The market opened its doors to the public on Friday with its grand opening event located on the corner of 7th Avenue and Osler Street.
Managing director Ada Bennett was one of two people, along with Nicole Slavinski of Niki’s Farm House, who had a vision to transform the 101-year-old Garden City Feeder Building into a new hub for antiques in the Queen City. Their other board member is Bart Schaeffer of YQR Mantiques.
Bennett has run the Cathedral Street Fair and the Regina Farmer’s Market in the past, but she admitted this project was the most work she has done in her life.
“I didn’t move my last box in here until Christmas Eve. I took Christmas Day off and I can’t remember what happened since Christmas Day,” said Bennett, who laughed while remembering how busy she and her colleagues were when getting the building ready for their opening.
“It’s amazing how it all came together and how we all worked together to get it done.”
Located in the historic Warehouse District, YQR Vintique Market hopes to create more history in their neighbourhood. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
The group was able to put the market together in five weeks since signing the lease papers for the space in November.
The market features eight unique vendors with each business offering something unique for people of all ages: Books We Loved, Bob’s Antiques, Cathedral Drygoods, From Past Times Antiques/Vintage, Niki’s Farm House, ReLiked Vintage & Retro, Vinyl Roadshow and YQR Mantiques.
Bennett said they wanted to offer a customer-centric environment for antique lovers in the city.
“This was very deliberate. Even the vendors we selected are very deliberate because we wanted everyone to be different from each other so that there wasn’t crossover of products,” shared Bennett. “It makes this very interesting for the customers.”
The vendors hope the open space, along with their wide variety of items, will attract residents and visitors for a visit. Bennett said she looks forward to adding to the history of their building.
Social media users are encouraged to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram if they want to keep tabs on what’s happening at the market.
The shop will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and there will be select Thursday nights for late night shopping a couple times a month.
