New antique store opens downtown

Chase Benjamin Plourde dreamed of opening a store ever since he was a kid, but he never thought that dream would become a reality.

Now, Plourde is running an antique store in downtown Fredericton. His store, Chase Benjamin Antiques, opened Friday.

“When I was a kid and they asked you to write about what you wanted to be when you grew up, I always wrote that I wanted to own a bookstore or a store that people would feel at home in, so it was kind of a thing that has always been in my mind but I didn’t necessarily think that I could do it,” said Plourde, who also works at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design.

“I started collecting photos, like antique photos and then I collected books, old books and my collection grew and grew to a point where a room in our house is just full of stuff.”

Plourde said he’s been looking for a place to sell antiques for about a year.

“I could have sold things online. It probably would have been easier, but I like the fact that I can meet the people and get to know them and get to know their stories and the reasons why they pick something,” Plourde said.

“When someone walks in and they’re brought back to when they were six, but they’re actually 75, it’s just a really cool thing to watch.”

Plourde said he wants to give the items in his store a new life by finding them a new home.

“It’s great to see somebody walk in and gasp at the toys that they used to have when they were younger and it brings back all these amazing memories. I think that’s the biggest thing for me – bringing back the good times.”

Some of the antiques for sale at his store include teacups, old typewriters, a 1960s Monopoly game, knick-knacks like a miniature Mr. Potato Head and photographs from the 1800s. 

Plourde said he’s surprised at how successful the store has been so far.

“I hope that after Christmas it keeps going,” he said.

“It’s just great to see people connect to items and for them to be able to take something home and be happy. That’s basically all I want is to bring happiness and joy to people.”