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Community Corner

Main Street Ephemera To Close

A Carroll Gardens neighborhood institution closes its doors

On a quiet little corner of Brooklyn, at Sackett and Columbia streets, is Main Street Ephemera.

Inside, church organ music plays from an unknown source. Dusty shoeboxes contain old photographs, postcards, war-time loveletters. You can almost hear a vintage fox stole recounting tales of the good life the way its bejewelled, elderly owner might have, were she still around to tell it.

Charming, cluttered and just a bit offbeat, it's the gift shop that time forgot.

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And now is the time to visit: Main Street Ephemera is closing and will soon be a part of history.

Main Street Ephemera is actually a combination of two distinct shops: Dave Whitlock's "ephemera," (vintage paper collectibles) and his wife Consuelo's Vintage & Contemporary Bijou. The phrase "paper collectibles" refers to posters, historical magazines, wartime propaganda, archival photos and much more.

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Upon walking inside, you'll likely be greeted by Consuelo, who runs the "Vintage Bijou" jewelry and accessory consignment shop. Dave might be hiding out in the back, but he'll be more than happy to chat you up about the floor to ceiling, wall to wall decor, which consists largely of B-movie posters.

Consuelo said she finds the items she sells all over the world, and it's the kind of stuff shoppers might seek out at upscale vintage boutiques east of Broadway in Lower Manhattan.

"I love her quirky and unusual selection, and the prices are very good," says Tessa Williams of Brooklyn Collective, a shop across the street. "One can just as easily find a cool 80's accessory as a gorgeous antique hat pin or pocket watch... endless amounts of beautiful pieces at a buy-able price."

Main Street Ephemera is a mystery to many, especially those new to the neighborhood, but store owners and locals are well familiar with the quirky shop.

Susan Goldberg of vintage shop Union Max located just a block away spoke fondly of one of Dave's signature products.

"He likes T-shirts," she said.

Indeed, the store does carry a particularly large number of Brooklyn themed t-shirts, which come in an array of colors and pay homage to every section of the borough, including Coney Island. Dave designs and screens them himself.

"I love the small town feel of Main Street Ephemera," said Elizabeth Green, who has lived near Columbia Street on and off for five years. "Columbia Street still has a very artist neighborhood feel to it. Main Street Ephemera has always been one of those hidden gems that is just a great place to peruse."

Consuelo said it's gotten much harder for the store to sustain itself over the years, given the changes Carroll Gardens has gone through, but would not go into more detail.

"[Columbia] street has changed," she said.

Main Street Ephemera is slated to close in late February, and there are no set plans on where all the fun collectibles will go. Consuelo's shop will likely take form as an independent entity inside a nearby Carroll Gardens location, and Dave will continue to sell his "paper collectibles" at trade shows, according to Consuelo.

Williams said she is sad to see them have to re-locate.

"They are a neighborhood gem," she said.

For Green, losing the shop will affect her daily.

"I will miss walking by the store to glance in the window at all the fun vintage jewelry," she said. 

It's worth paying a visit to this little corner of Brooklyn before Main Street Ephemera is gone, if only to chat with the owners. You might find an old picture of a couple that could be your ancestors. Or you may lose yourself browsing old war-time love letters. Consuelo might even suggest that perfect Bakelite-era mood ring as a Valentine's Day gift. In a shop like this one, you never know.

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