H & J Trading Post officially opened its doors July 18 at the old train depot on Erie Street in Darien Center.
The business will display and advertise local handmade craft products at the storefront seven days a week.
‘‘I found out how much craft vendors pay to display their products at craft shows and I thought the price was ridiculous when they could display it here for a lot less,’’ Amanda Krzyzanowski said.
Amanda and Jeffrey Krzyzanowski of Darien Center purchased the building a year ago and started fixing it up just after Mother’s Day.
They lease the property through Norfolk and Southern Railroad.
‘‘The building intrigued us the first time we looked at it,” said Amanda. ‘‘It has such history, especially where it is not remodeled in the back. There are dates on the wall from the early 1800s.’’
Amanda says the train depot used to be a a weigh station for local grain mills. Just last week an older gentleman entered the store and said he remembered coming to the location at 1385 Erie St. as a child to deliver grain.
Amanda says she started restoring furniture as therapy to deal with her chronic pain. She has a military connected disability after serving in the Navy for five years and in the Reserves for four.
Amanda also displays her restored furniture at the new store.
‘‘If I can help people that’s a big part of me and I think that comes from being a nurse and my military background, I think that is just who I am.’’
The couple moved to Darien Center from Orchard Park in 2012 with their two children Haley, 17; and Jayna, 7.
Amanda says she loves living in the country on 50 acres of paradise. Her children enjoy a smaller school district in Alexander and being close to home is important.
‘‘I love the fact I can have my girls come to work with me, they are such great help.’’
Amanda’s husband Jeffrey has a business degree and helps with that aspect at the store. ‘‘He helps me greatly in life, with our daughters, our house and now our business,’’ she says.
‘‘The fact that we can do this together just adds to our happiness.’’
H & J Trading Post is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
If interested in displaying your crafts contact Amanda at 585-547-1010 or go to their Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/handjtradingpost
They also have a website: http://www.hjtradingpost.com/
Aug 21, 2015
