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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-state area. In addition to this development from Dyersville, Iowa, we will share other news in Tuesday’s edition.
DYERSVILLE, Iowa — A new antique store has opened in Dyersville with the goal of having “something for everyone.”
Josiah’s Antiques & Treasures recently opened at 101 First Ave. W. in Dyersville. The store offers a variety of vintage antiques as well as retro collectibles from the late 20th century.
“It’s kind of a hybrid of two things I love,” said owner Josiah Wurm. “It’s those old-fashioned antiques and pop culture stuff from the ’80s. Something for everyone, that was my idea.”
Wurm said his interest in antiques started roughly five years ago when he attended an estate sale on a whim. As he picked up items at the sale, he began to research them online to learn more about the items’ history.
He soon began to collect items to resell online or at antique fairs around the area. Around that same time, he also started setting up booths at regional conventions to buy and sell retro collectibles such as old games or figurines.
“I just really fell in love with picking up whatever item piqued my interest and learning its history,” Wurm said. “That’s how it started, but it really ballooned from there into all this.”
As his collection grew, Wurm began to realize he needed more space to store and display his items. The idea of opening a physical location subsequently bloomed, but he didn’t take the leap until he heard about an open storefront on Dyersville’s First Avenue late last year.
Wurm jumped on the location in a “spur of the moment” decision and since has filled it with myriad unique and/or nostalgic items. His antique collection includes a variety of furniture, glassware and other décor.
He also sells a variety of figurines, toys and model kits from the ’80s and ’90s for customers looking to relive a more recent time in history.
“It’s great to see people’s joy when they find an old toy or something they had back in the day,” Wurm said. “They buy it, and it’s like they get to relive that memory.”
Josiah’s Antiques & Treasures currently is operating on winter hours and is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. More information about the store is available at its Facebook page at bit.ly/42eoE4C.