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Market Place
Yesteryear's closing doors after 5 years
By Renee Canada
Yesteryear's Antiques, a downtown store devoted to selling antiques and English chintz ceramics, recently closed its doors after operating for five years at 379 E. Campbell Ave.
"We had the largest selection of chintz in the Bay Area," said Dianne Brackett, who owned the store with her husband Reed. "We still do," she said with a chuckle, "just no longer in the Bay Area."
After living in San Jose for 23 years, the Bracketts decided the current housing market made it a prime time to make their move. "We sold our house in order to capitalize on the market," Brackett said.
Apparently, the move was worth it. Their new home in Granite Bay, 20 miles northeast of Sacramento, overlooks a lake, and is not far from the town of Folsom, where they are thinking about opening another store. Folsom's historical downtown was a major factor in their decision to move.
It was for that same reason that the couple decided to open up their shop in historical downtown Campbell in 1995. Before that, the Bracketts worked in the co-op Briarwood Antiques in San Jose for four years before they decided to go into business for themselves.
Though Dianne was the more active of the two in running their shop in Campbell, she says she "couldn't have done it without Reed."
Yesteryear's was perhaps most famous for its English chintz ceramics.
Chintz is characterized by bright designs and floral patterns, often used for clothing, draperies and upholstery. Much English chinaware has also been designed using the chintz pattern.
Brackett, who's always had a soft spot for flowers, was first introduced to chintz by a girlfriend. "I've always loved flowers, and that's what chintz is," Brackett explained. With that kind of enthusiasm, it is no surprise then that English chintz became one of their most popular items.
Though English chintz is what often drew people to the store, Yesteryear's also sold furniture, crystal, china, vintage linen and garden elements, according to Brackett. Most recently, Brackett said the store was moving towards the "shabby chic and Paris apartment trends."
Property owner Jeff Wyatt said the property is now available for lease. But potential buyers should hurry to make their move; Wyatt hinted that negotiations were already underway for a new tenant. He wouldn't comment further.
And Campbell antique lovers don't have to say good-bye to the Bracketts for good; they can keep tabs on Yesteryear's through their website at http://chintznet.com/yesteryears.
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Campbell, California
