Bringing new finds to town

Retropolitan, an antiques and vintage clothing store, opened Sept 22. The store is located in Ellsworth Music's former Shepherdstown location. (Chronicle photo by Kelly Cambrel)
Following the recent relocation of the Ellsworth Music store, a “retropolitian” antiques and vintage clothing shop has opened its doors on South Duke Street.
Shepherdstown resident Sarah Carter celebrated the official grand opening of her store, Retropolitan, last Thursday, Sept. 22.
Carter, who has lived in Shepherdstown for the past 25 years, decided to open up the Duke Street location after selling her vintage clothing and antiques online for the past several years.
Carter previously owned an antique store, ” The Blue Flute,” on German Street, but opted to close it and sell her wares online.
“The Internet had just become the kind of place you could do this kind of business,” she said.

(Chronicle photo by Tricia Fulks)
However, Carter described her growing dissatisfaction with the anonymity of the Internet.
Carter said having a mortar-and-brick store allows her to “develop a relationship with the customer.”
“It’s not an anonymous customer in Colorado who you mail China to,” she said.
Carter said she was also excited about being able to craft and manipulate her new space and said she made a spontaneous decision to move into her new location after noticing “for rent” signs out front.
Carter said the space has the benefit of its large windowed storefront and parking.
She said she hoped to make Retroplitan a place where people feel welcome to spend time exploring.
“I would like to make it a place that people are excited about coming to,” she said.
Along with vintage clothing from the 1900s thorugh 1980s, Carter will sell fine China, artwork and vintage and antique furniture, among other things.
Carter’s items, which are retrieved largely from estate sales, vary in price from the relatively inexpensive to the more extravagant.
“I think I have a large enough variety that it would appeal to a serious collector and someone looking for something fun for their closet,” she said.
According to Carter, Retorpolitan offers something unique to customers.
“Shepherdstown is a place where people really love to dress up … I hope people will come here for interesting clothing and costumes,” she said.
Retropolitan will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- (Chronicle photo by Tricia Fulks)