Eclectic Antique Centre on Hardy St has a posse when the shroud is removed revealing its window’s Christmas charm for another season.
Captivating pedestrians with its rustic “Christmas in the woods” theme featuring woodland creature statues, strewn leaves and fairy lights is Maria Thompson and her family business’s “labour of love”, the “prime real estate”, the eye to the well-rooted antique store’s soul for 17 years.
Moments before our interview, a customer complimented the display, which changes every Christmas.
“It really gives people joy, we have people come in and with so much going on in the world and times are tough for people, it’s something that I can give back to this community that have supported me in my business,” she says.
“All year when I’m out and about I pick up things… a lot of the stuff I get down in Christchurch at a big swap meet we go to every year… I’ve been up to Auckland and picked up some bits and pieces from there, and I clear out estate lots on a regular basis,
“I’ll look at some and go ‘I’ll save that for the window’... in my head I get this theme, but when I go to do the window it takes a form of its own.”
Maria credits colleague Christine Ross for going “over and beyond” to make the display and store shine, and says the mahi (work) of her late husband Shane Henare and new husband Nathan Thompson have also been pivotal.
CBD pedestrians can marvel at Maria’s display “into the New Year”.
