Bristol’s Another Time Antiques owner celebrates 40 years in business
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Bristol Borough wasn’t always the up-and-coming, bustling business district people across the country are taking notice of today. At one point, there were more than a dozen vacant shops along Mill Street, which proved to be a bleak view for the neighboring owners. Over the years, a number threw in the towel, unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But a select few, including Rich Vallejo, remained resilient. Now, Vallejo is celebrating a major milestone of 40 years as the owner of Another Time Antiques.
At the Bristol Borough Business Association’s annual dinner meeting last month at the King George Inn, Vallejo was recognized by his community for this accomplishment. He was also honored for coordinating the Bristol Antique Auto Show for the same length of time, an annual event that has grown from 40 to more than 200 cars on display. As he received a commemorative plaque in front of nearly 80 guests, Vallejo was both excited and humbled by the honor.
“It doesn’t feel like 40 years,” he said. “It flew by.”
As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. For Vallejo, operating Another Time Antiques has allowed him to live out his passion every single day. Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Vallejo always enjoyed visiting flea markets to see what unique treasures he could get his hands on.
“I eventually grew a love for it,” he said.
Vallejo’s interest continued to grow over the years as he spent some time in California before returning to the East Coast. During a hunting trip in Reading with a few friends from Bristol, they told him how nice an area the borough was to live. After some convincing, Vallejo was sold and officially made the move in 1967.
For several years, Vallejo worked a steady 9-to-5 at a local car dealership while continuing to hone his craft on the side. In his spare time, he poured over books about antiques, learning all he possibly could about buying and selling. Eventually, Vallejo had a steady business selling antique furniture out of his home, which he quickly realized brought in more money than his full-time job.
“Goodbye car business!” he said.
Needless to say, Vallejo couldn’t operate from his home forever, especially if he wanted his business to grow. In 1978, he opened the doors to Another Time Antiques at 301 Mill St. Unfortunately, reality was a stark contrast from the dream he envisioned. Reflecting on those early years, Vallejo said there were 13 empty stores in the immediate area. It was far from the current-day, post-Small Business Revolution borough, which has new stores and restaurants popping up left and right.
“I thought I had made a major mistake,” he said.
During his first few years in business, Vallejo actually lost money. Still, he worked…and worked…and worked. For 13 consecutive years, he could be found in the shop seven days a week to help get Another Time Antiques off the ground.
“You have to be here all the time,” he said. “You have to work.”
Vallejo began acquiring pieces from some of the richest estates in the area, filling his shop with jewelry, art and Chippendale furniture. It was this drive and willingness to beat the odds that earned him a dedicated clientele of collectors and sellers. He was finally seeing the “light at the end of the tunnel” as he formed a good reputation in the community. People quickly learned that anytime they stepped foot in Another Time Antiques, they were sure to find a unique, high-quality piece.
Now, 40 years later, Vallejo remains a staple in the Bristol Borough community. Though new shops have sprung up around him, he only sees this and the impact of the Small Business Revolution as beneficial to his business. Since the series went live on Hulu, Another Time Antiques has seen new clients from areas such as Levittown, Fairless Hills and Bensalem who were previously unfamiliar with Mill Street.
“It’s been tremendous,” Vallejo said.
As Bristol continues to grow and welcome more visitors than it has seen in countless years, new owners would be wise to take a page or two out of Vallejo’s book. For him, success is all about staying positive, taking advantage of available resources, supporting fellow business owners and most importantly, being consistent. To this day, Vallejo continues to have a steady presence in his shop every day (except Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more on Another Time Antiques, visit anothertimeantiques.info. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
