Owners Celebrate Two Stores in Sweetwater

Historic Downtown Sweetwater, Tenn., has just celebrated the opening of Sweetwater Antiques “Too”, located at 305 N. Main St., just a few steps south of the home of Sweetwater Antiques. Owners Diana and Jamie Osbrink purchased the first store just over two years ago, and it’s long-time success kept them a list of vendors waiting for booths. They made a decision to acquire the building that had been home for Pennington Home and quickly remodeled it, making available a dozen or more booths, which were filled immediately. The Osbrink’s first store, Sweetwater Antiques, is located at 309 N. Main St., and is one of the first and longest operating antique stores in Sweetwater. It’s always been known for some very fine and unique antiques and collectibles, primitives, vintage, furniture, smalls, signage, tools and so much more.

The new Sweetwater Antiques Too is filled with more great antiques and primitives, furniture and glassware, collectibles and rare finds, and every vendor offers something different and unique. Like the first store, the vendors restock their booths weekly. Both stores will be open seven days a week from 10-5. Beginning in March, both will stay open until 8 p.m. on Fridays for late shopping, along with most all the shops in the downtown shopping district.

Diana and Jamie Osbrink and their daughters moved from California when they purchased the first store. All of them have enjoyed working in the store, as well as getting acquainted with all the downtown merchants. They have become very active in networking and assisting with events that happen in Sweetwater. They have another business that Diana told me her husband, Jamie has been planning and setting up, and is anxious to be bringing something new to the area. This business will be an Airbnb business; travelers are able to go online and rent a home for a night or even a week. The B & B that they will be renting through Airbnb will be the Historic Carriage House in Sweetwater. Breakfast is not included with the nightly stays, however, snacks and other foods are made available to the renter based on what their needs might be.

Diana and other businesses network with Sweetwater’s Main Street Program to get grants to help with new businesses coming into the downtown. Sweetwater Main Street is certified through the state program and accredited by the National Main Street Center, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It encourages business development and tourism, which is an asset for a town with industry or who are working to bring more industry to their area. Diana and Jamie are very excited to be a part of Historic Sweetwater; being able to work alongside other merchants to help make it a vibrant town that visitors enjoy and look forward to returning to shop, and maybe even make Sweetwater their home.

Diana said they will be opening an E Commerce website very soon, and you will be able to purchase antiques right off the website. They will ship anywhere in the United States. They do that now if someone sees something on their Facebook or Instagram page, they can call and purchase with a credit card, and the store ships it directly to them. The E Commerce page will be their website for both stores; they will be posting this site as soon as it is finalized and open for you to visit and shop. Be sure to plan a shopping excursion to Sweetwater this spring, and let Diana, Jamie and their staff know that you read about them in the Busy Bee Trader. You will enjoy shopping and dining in Historic Downtown Sweetwater, a Main Street Community.

By Maxine B Jones, Ocoee, Tennessee