Bothell / Washington / United States
We are very fortunate to have our shop located in a house that is now over 100 years old. The building was built in 1901 by the Ericksen family. In 1912, it was sold to an enterprising Swedish emigrant named Alma Green. Alma started a colorful variety of businesses during her life in the house, including a chicken ranch and even a still during prohibition. In 1965, the Green family sold the house to a general contractor who used the property for storage, but the house was left to deteriorate. In 1979, Rod Loveless, a local land developer, purchased the house and later renovated it to its present state of rooms. In 1981, the old carriage house next to our main house opened the first antique shop in the Country Village and later the main house opened two more shops within. The Ericksen house has been used for many different shops over the past twenty plus years. The most successful being an antique shop owned by several owners. I acquired the business in the fall of 2001, giving the shop its present name. Although the shop is rented to as many as 18 dealers and managed as other "antique malls", I feel that the beauty of separate rooms within the house makes a unique setting for the shop-browsing public. The Country Village is now a collection of over 40 specialty shops, restaurants, and businesses, all set in a beautiful rambling outdoor garden setting, complete with our own special variety of free roaming animals and family oriented activities. A summer farmers market on Fridays, a harvest festival in October, and a fabulous Christmas display during the holiday season are some of the events offered by the Country Village.
