The Old Townie: Oxford’s ever-changing storefronts
Steve Schnabl has watched plenty of businesses move and reinvent themselves during his four decades in Oxford.
I think I’ve followed Bertie Wespiser all over town.
Early in my marriage, Wife and I searched for some old oak dining room chairs to match a dining table we had acquired. One afternoon as we shopped at Bertie’s original antique shop, we surprisingly found and bought four matching chairs that happened to match two we already owned. All five of us could gather with a guest for our meals.
In fact, I am sitting in one of those chairs now as I compose.
That first shop was in an old grain elevator on the east edge of the railroad track off Spring Street behind Ace Hardware. It burned down years ago, creating space for the recently closed Spring Street Auto to be built.
Undeterred by flames, The Bird House Antiques popped up again in an old storefront between the original Princess Theater and the old Smith-Ogle funeral home, on the west side of the first block of North Beech off High Street. I visited frequently for the joy of finding perfect décor items for our home.
When the theater and Bertie’s location were purchased to build the current student housing (with the vacant space many of us hoped would be a theater), she moved the shop to the two current storefronts on High, just east of the Court House. I still often see her big white van parked in the alley as she unloads another load of treasures, enticing me to plan yet another visit to browse.
I also frequented auctions, often hosted by Doug Ross and his wife Robin as the cashier. I hear Doug and she were recently back in the area from the retirement home on a Caribbean island. Doug’s long white beard, round wire-rims, straw hat, overalls and high Chuck Taylors would not appear sometimes until you heard his booming voice greet someone else around the corner or on a different aisle at Kroger. Doug also served our community as an Oxford City Council member. A memorable man of fine fetter.
The western end of the new building which holds OxVegas Chicken used to house Fred’s Barbershop, with his son Jerry covering the other chair. Jerry, a large man, favored large old (1950’s, ‘60’s or 70’s) cars. I remember a Caddy and an Oldsmobile that always caught my eye when he parked out front.
Of course, Bill’s Art Store’s back wall abutted the barbershop, with its entry facing High Street just east of the park where the famous water tower stood. I had art framed there and also at John Kogge’s shop further west on High (now relocated to College Corner.)
I also used the quick printer/fax shop, Baskin Robbins, Roll’s Jewelry, Miami Co-op, Snyder’s and the Wendy’s where Chipotle is now.
A for-EV-er fixture, with international distribution, is Wild Berry. A big thank you to Marc and Lisa Biales. Amazing job outlasting other Tri-State headshops like Dingleberry’s and Moonie’s in other cities. We also loved Pedro’s and its 99-cent margarita specials.
I feel fortunate to have these many fun and friendly memories of our town, even if I did frequent the head shops in the old days.
Thank goodness for gummies.
Steve Schnabl moved to Oxford in 1985. He retired in 2023 from Oxford Seniors after a 40-year career directing nonprofits.
