Vintage fashion, memorabilia come to downtown Jacksonville with retro store – Jacksonville Journal-Courier

The store at 303 W. State St. has all sorts of items, ranging from rolling pins to record singles to dolls to fashion from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

“She’s always had a good eye for unique finds,” said Angela Brannan-Pratt, Agans’ friend of 25 years. “That’s what you’ll find here. There’s something for everyone here.”

Brannan-Pratt is helping Agans with running the shop. She said that the majority the things inside Troves of Treasures are not able to be found anywhere else.

A lifelong collector, Agans said she had always wanted to own an antique store. Originally, she brought her trove on the road with her to various markets and festivals both in and out of the state before deciding to find a space in Jacksonville, she said.

“Everything was really going good on that,” she said, “but it’s a lot of hard work. Loading in, loading out. Setting up, tearing down, especially if you’re by yourself.”

Agans was also robbed shortly before she opened Troves of Treasures by someone who had helped her at a festival, which she said helped push her to open the store.

“I thought, if they’re going to steal my stuff in my home (and) from my flea markets, it’s time to get a place,” she said. 

The Jacksonville market was hard to gauge, they said. Agans said that some people who come into the store treat it like it’s a thrift store when it is not.

“It’s not the Goodwill,” she said. “The few I’ve had in just threw a fit.”

“There (are) some thrifty things here,” Brannan-Pratt said. “You can find some old trinkets and whatnot, and maybe a shirt for five bucks. But you can also find a fur coat for $100.”

However, both Agans and Brannan-Pratt said younger people were drawn to the vintage fashions the store has. Agans kept collecting items from the ’60s and ’70s to sell, but “my clothes (are) what (were) selling. And the kids (were) following me from state to state,” she said.

“I love it when the kids come in and they’re going, ‘Ooh!’ ‘Aah!’ ‘Oh, I love you!’ I just feel so good,” Agans said.

The store was working on making itself known in Jacksonville, both by establishing its social media presence and participating in events like the Santa Stroll in December. Previous downtown events and the opening of Gillham House have also helped drive some foot traffic to the store, Brannan-Pratt said.

For now, Agans said she was focused on keeping the lights on. Brannan-Pratt said Agans wanted to become a “long-term staple” of the city.

“I’d like to have this support me, but I don’t know if it will,” Agans said. “Time will tell.”

The shop is open noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday or by appointment.