Looking 4 a Treasure?
Sep 01, 2022 02:09PM ● By Gary Fyke
It’s often said everyone loves to buy something at a really good price! That can almost be a “truism” in Chillicothe because there are at least five businesses here that specialize in taking one person’s discards and repurposing them into another person’s “perfect new find.” Second Street is the place to go if you are looking for a treasure. One building is boldly identified as it is painted to look like a pirate’s treasure chest, and I went there to ask owner Dawn Childers how she came upon her idea for the paint scheme. Dawn said the curved roof line of the building reminded her of a pirate’s treasure chest. She also chose a catchy way to announce the goal of her business: “Looking 4 Treasures, Thrift and Resale” at 806 S. Second. 309-274-3976.
She took over the business that she and her late husband, Troy, had started about eight years ago, but has transitioned away from used appliances and specializes in a wide variety of used items and furniture. Dawn said the rear portion of the building had been occupied by an auto repair business which has since moved out. She is expanding into that additional 2600 square feet of floor space and adding many more types of used items.
The building has a rich history. The property was first occupied by the Congregational Church in the late 1800s which burned after a new church had been built across Second Street. Then a large automobile repair and dealership was built there, twice, each of which also burned. The existing structure had been the Jarvis Chevrolet Dealership in 1942 and the Chic Manufacturing Company bought it in 1944 to manufacture a line of “Princess Peggy” women’s clothes. Chic redesigned and enlarged the building to look as it does.
The company actually made clothing for the military services during World War II and had originally planned to employ 100 women to operate the power sewing machines and equipment. That goal was never met, but did reach into the 60 employees level. After Chic closed, the building has housed a roller rink, an electric “Hawaiian Guitar” manufacturing business and, of course, an auto repair garage. Dawn said she is open Tuesday–Friday 10–4 and Saturday 10–2 and has an on-line auction of items selected from her “Treasure-Trove.”
She took over the business that she and her late husband, Troy, had started about eight years ago, but has transitioned away from used appliances and specializes in a wide variety of used items and furniture. Dawn said the rear portion of the building had been occupied by an auto repair business which has since moved out. She is expanding into that additional 2600 square feet of floor space and adding many more types of used items.
The building has a rich history. The property was first occupied by the Congregational Church in the late 1800s which burned after a new church had been built across Second Street. Then a large automobile repair and dealership was built there, twice, each of which also burned. The existing structure had been the Jarvis Chevrolet Dealership in 1942 and the Chic Manufacturing Company bought it in 1944 to manufacture a line of “Princess Peggy” women’s clothes. Chic redesigned and enlarged the building to look as it does.
The company actually made clothing for the military services during World War II and had originally planned to employ 100 women to operate the power sewing machines and equipment. That goal was never met, but did reach into the 60 employees level. After Chic closed, the building has housed a roller rink, an electric “Hawaiian Guitar” manufacturing business and, of course, an auto repair garage. Dawn said she is open Tuesday–Friday 10–4 and Saturday 10–2 and has an on-line auction of items selected from her “Treasure-Trove.”