Young Entrepreneur Turns Vintage Finds into Treasured Sales

COLUMBIANA, Ohio – A collector of vintage swung vases and mid-century furniture, Zhenya Motry may be insightful about antiques beyond his 23 years.

The owner of Columbiana Vintage, an antiques business that opened in July in the Columbiana Plaza next to Hogan’s Baking Co., knows what he likes – interesting and unusual pieces.

He says he has been buying and selling antique furniture for four or five years, but when he got the opportunity to take on the retail space instead of a large storage space he was looking at as he pursued his passion, he took the chance on the retail space.

“I wanted to be in Columbiana because Columbiana used to be the place people wanted to come to shop for antiques,” Motry said, adding that he remembers charter buses bringing shoppers from distant places in search of antique bargains.

Though some of those longtime antique stores have since left, Motry believes there is a mix of older and newer stores, including antique stores like his, that again make Columbiana a destination for shoppers on the hunt for something vintage or different. 

The hunt for interesting and unique items is what draws many to antique shopping, including Motry. He is drawn to estate sales and other opportunities to find items he knows his customers will love as much as he does.

Additionally, he believes antique furniture is making a comeback, mainly because it is so well made compared with modern furniture.

“I feel like a lot more people are starting to thrift and go to small businesses and antique shops because you can buy a whole bedroom set from a furniture store – it’s not real wood,” Motry said. “Even though it’s antique, it’s built way better than what’s built now. And it’s already lasted 60 years, so it will probably last another 60 to 100 years.” 

Furniture is not the only item found throughout the store, which includes furnishings, glassware, dishes and a selection of new Columbiana- and Ohio-related gifts. Vintage Christmas ornaments and décor items are currently for sale, as well as both vinyl records and cassettes.

A 2021 Columbiana graduate, Motry was in the high school’s entrepreneurship class. He was one of the students instrumental in creating the Columbiana Corridor, which created usable space in a mostly unused alley on the east side of South Main Street.

His store has benefited from the efforts of a more recent entrepreneurship class, which tackled the project of upgrading the parking lot and plaza where his business is located. The plaza storefronts were all painted, with matching signage added. Two new murals designed by that class welcome visitors to town.

Motry said through the entrepreneurship class and working on the corridor project, he met city leaders and leaders at Compco Industries, who helped the students bring their project to fruition. Those same city leaders remembered him when he approached them about opening his store this year.

“The community, they support you,” Motry said. “A lot of the people say your shop is wonderful, and we’re glad to have you here.”

Events in the community help to draw customers into the shops downtown. Motry said every month there are at least one or two events. Plus, he sees a lot of foot traffic from those who notice his shop while getting items at the bakery next door.

His parents, Lori and Doug Motry, often help out in the shop, which allows him to pursue his passion of finding the items that will be featured next in the store.

“One of the absolute best things is when people come in and say, ‘Oh my gosh, my grandmother had this. This reminds me of my grandmother’s house. This reminds me of growing up,’” Lori Motry said. She said people love to take home items that hold memories for them.

Zhenya Motry also has welcomed 10 other vendors into his store who have added their antique finds, including one who has a display of Uranium glass, which glows under black light. Collectors of the special glass come back often to see what items have been added, Motry said.

Collectibles, handmade items like charcuterie boards, small antiques and even local honey can be found in the vendors’ areas.

“Every antique shop has its own theme,” Motry said, adding the antique shops in town often support each other, letting people know where they might find a particular item.

He said he keeps fair prices on items, which helps to keep a constant flow of new items into the store. Affordability and his online efforts – a Facebook Marketplace site and Etsy and Ebay stores – help draw customers from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, West Virginia and even North Carolina.

Columbiana Vintage is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Pictured at top: Zhenya Motry, owner of Columbiana Vintage.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.