Attention wives: there's a new store in town that's filled with crafts, collectibles, Beanie babies and stained glass.Best of all, you can take your husband, and odds are he won't fall asleep.
No, there aren't Lazy Boy recliners planted in front of wide-screened televisions that only show sports channels.
But make no mistake: Ye Olde Trading Post in Lockport isn't just a place for chicks.
'My husband's idea was to have a store that guys can go to,' said Donna Bartosek, who owns the shop on Illinois 171 with her husband, Joe.
'He wanted a gift store for guys.
Men can come in here and be absolutely fascinated.'
He succeeded -- and then some.
The store is filled with antiques and hard-to-come-by items.
'He's been collecting this stuff for 20 years.
It's his dream; he's always wanted to do this,' she said.
'He's just always been able to find stuff no one else has.'
That includes a section devoted to Route 66, to Al Capone, to Ertle brand John Deere tractors with fully workable parts and -- Joe Bartosek's treasure -- some of the Jim Beam railroad car collection that began in 1950. Some cars even have the actual whiskey still inside them.
Next to an antique scale that reads 'Toledo: No Springs -- Honest Scale' is a display case filled with sports memorabilia, including a reproduction of an autographed photo of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig together, as well as a photo of Ty Cobb and Christy Matthews.
There's even an antique rubber football helmet.
If that isn't enough, a room upstairs is devoted solely to baseball memorabilia.
Ye Olde Trading Post, a 9,000-square foot, three-level store set against a woodsy creek,was once a Baptist church.
When the Homer Township couple first planned the store, after years of collecting antiques and storing them in warehouses, Joe Bartosek took stock of his inventory and wondered if he should open a museum.
'He kept saying, `That's not for sale, that's not for sale,' and I said, `This is crazy; you can't have everything not for sale,'' she said.
They compromised.
Most everything is for sale, and if it's not, they'll tell you.
But one thing is for certain -- since they do a lot of buy-outs, things tend to only pass through the store once and quickly.
'There's nothing in here anyone else has, and if they do, we have it for less money,' Donna Bartosek said.
When you walk in, the front parlor is filled with Hummel and Anri collectibles.
Door County coffee sits on the counter, and Door County jams and jellies are next to the Beanie Babies on the opposite wall.
For the obligatory candle line, Donna Bartosek chose St. Johnsbury of Philadelphia. They burn longer, she says.
Some of her favorite items in the store are the hand-crafted carousel horses of all sizes.
Her collection of genuine Tiffany lamps, including two brass ones too heavy for her to even lift, are among her other gems.
There's even Hollywood karma in the place.
Signs used in the movie The Untouchables adorn the first-floor walls, including Shirley's Dance Club, 41st District Police Station, The New Atlantic Nite Club and Hilmer Haus Diner.
To say everything you could imagine is in the story isn't an understatement.
If brass is your thing, it's there.
If you like refinished antique wood cabinets and chests, they've got 'em. Remember Chicago's Riverview Park? Nostalgia buffs will love this display.
There are antique picture frames, farm implements, church pews, lots of home accents and Coca-Cola merchandise galore.
An upstairs room is filled with work from local painters and another is filled with kids' stuff.
'There isn't (anyone) from a baby to a grandparent you couldn't find something for,' Donna Bartosek said.
Ye Olde Trading Shop is at 14929 S. Archer Road. Hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and 12 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday (815) 834-4101.
LIZ WILKINSON ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ashley, 11, and Billy Burns, 9, of Homer Township look at artwork while visiting Ye Old Trading Post, 14929 S. Archer Ave., Lockport, with their parents.
