This Sunday morning I went for a walk around town. Although Kentsburg, like most suburbs is a nice place to live, the town is segregated, geographically and philosophically into two towns. The dividing line is the 
railroad that bisects Kentsburg creating south and north neighborhoods. The southern section is dominated by old Victorian homes, churches and an antique district. The antique district has perhaps a dozen shops. Most are glamorized junk shops, but a few actually sell something a normal person might buy. A few of the old buildings are pictured below. 
The yellow-painted brick storefront was once a locksmith, the building caught fire a few years back and was burned-out. It was recently nicely renovated and made into a retail store. The owners sold eclectic merchandise, some old some new, mostly bric-a-brac. There wasn't enough business for them to make a profit and they have since re-located. Last night, as Jane and I were taking our daily walk, we noticed that the store was being stock with exotic items--definitely not antiques. The new owners are calling the store Thai Crossing, so I suspect the merchandise will be mostly asian imports. It is my favorite building in the antique district. My second favorite (the red building pictured below) is a used bookshop. We have occasionally shopped there and enjoy looking inside. Sometimes they have small gatherings in the evening, although I'm not sure what they do at these meetings. Just to left of the bookshop a new deli, The Big Pickle, has just opened, but it won't be around long. The town doesn't allow restaurants in north Kentsburg to sell alcoholic beverages, not even wine. So the only restaurant options in the antique district are a couple of seedy sandwich shops and now The Big Pickle. However, the menu prices for The Big Pickle are too high and there isn't a steady lunch crowd to keep them afloat. 
railroad that bisects Kentsburg creating south and north neighborhoods. The southern section is dominated by old Victorian homes, churches and an antique district. The antique district has perhaps a dozen shops. Most are glamorized junk shops, but a few actually sell something a normal person might buy. A few of the old buildings are pictured below. 
The yellow-painted brick storefront was once a locksmith, the building caught fire a few years back and was burned-out. It was recently nicely renovated and made into a retail store. The owners sold eclectic merchandise, some old some new, mostly bric-a-brac. There wasn't enough business for them to make a profit and they have since re-located. Last night, as Jane and I were taking our daily walk, we noticed that the store was being stock with exotic items--definitely not antiques. The new owners are calling the store Thai Crossing, so I suspect the merchandise will be mostly asian imports. It is my favorite building in the antique district. My second favorite (the red building pictured below) is a used bookshop. We have occasionally shopped there and enjoy looking inside. Sometimes they have small gatherings in the evening, although I'm not sure what they do at these meetings. Just to left of the bookshop a new deli, The Big Pickle, has just opened, but it won't be around long. The town doesn't allow restaurants in north Kentsburg to sell alcoholic beverages, not even wine. So the only restaurant options in the antique district are a couple of seedy sandwich shops and now The Big Pickle. However, the menu prices for The Big Pickle are too high and there isn't a steady lunch crowd to keep them afloat. 
The other building (pictured below) that has labeled across the front 'prevention of blindness' sells, as the sign by the door indicates, antiques and curiosities. Antiques and curiosities also describes the people I've seen shopping in this store.
All the buildings in the antique district are architecturally interesting, but I don't know how they stay open. 
That goes for the majority of the other stores (not pictured)--I just don't know who would buy the old, usually dusty objects, on their shelves.
That goes for the majority of the other stores (not pictured)--I just don't know who would buy the old, usually dusty objects, on their shelves. Most of the folks in the southern neighborhoods surrounding the antique district like it this way. I think the idea is to limit the amount of traffic through their neighborhood by restricting the ability of serious business people to operate profitable stores. This sometimes leads to conflicts concerning how the Kentsburg town council wants to modernize and develop the business district into a more vibrant shopping center.
Anyway, we live on the north side of the railroad tracks. Although not comprised of Victorian homes, north Kentsburg has its' share of homes listed on the historic register. The neighborhood is a mix of old, not-so-old, and new homes. Furthermore, like many areas, home builders are beginning to buy up the existing modest homes, raze them and build huge new homes. This is easier done in our neighborhood since the existing homes are modestly priced (at least modest for this area) and there are fewer restrictions on development.
One nice aspect of where we live is the ability to walk to nearby shopping---pharmacy, barber, restaurants that those in south Kentsburg would probably have to drive to. There is also a liquor store nearby, so we have that going for us.
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