Erwin and Lillian Enns of Oak Lake, Man. have a unique and interesting selection of collectibles at their antique shop on the corner of Cameron and 2nd street in the R.M. of Sifton. They decided to start up the business to fill in their days and enjoy their retirement while they are both still healthy.
In 1963, they moved to B.C. for a few years and then decided to move back in 1973 to pursue their love for collecting antiques. They have had their business for five years and love to meet other people who are interested in antiques. Their most popular time of the year is in the summer when people come to visit while on vacation.
“We started with a few antiques, just to have a shop with some collectibles for people to stop in and take a look at, but as time went on, things started getting a little out of hand and we realized our little shop was now a big shop,” chuckles Lillian. “We really didn’t expect it to get this large, but we both have an addiction when it comes to old relics.”
“When we first got married, I picked up an old compass out of a boat and our love for antiques spiraled out of control since then,” adds Erwin. “We went to almost every auction sale where Ken Wilkinson was the auctioneer and filled our shop with all our purchases. We do not handle consigned antiques of any kind; everything in here is our own collectibles. We are content to enjoy the items we have on display. Sometimes they can spark a long and interesting conversation.”
Erwin also owns a repair shop in town called Erwin’s Maintenance. The antique shop is added on to his business, which is very handy, as he can go from one business to the other through the back door. He is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to household repairs and plumbing fixtures. He is on call if anyone is in need of assistance with leaky faucets, and plumbing and pipe issues. He is also handy fixing metal and iron pieces such as bicycles and wagons. Erwin also adds he does snow removal during the winter months and lawn mowing during the summer months. “There always seems to be something to repair or fix, so it keeps me occupied and busy at the same time,” says Erwin.
Because antiques are always in season, the Enns family want people to know they are available anytime for those who want to come and look at their wide assortment of collectibles. “Just give us a call and we will meet you down at the shop. We are always around and like to meet people that are interested in what we collect,” adds Erwin. “Some days we feel we should downsize and other days we feel like we need to build on.”
“We have added some new and interesting antiques to our collection at the shop and are hoping to open by mid-April,” says Lillian.
