<< Previous   of   Next >> Snohomish County Business Journal/JOHN WOLCOTT  (click to enlarge) Lizzie Metz's Marysville business, Lizzy's Antiques & Jewelry, celebrates 10 years in business next February, specializing in quality 14-k gold jewelry and antique diamond rings. The tight economy, she said, is bringing more sellers and buyers to her business. Snohomish County Business Journal/M. L. DEHM  (click to enlarge) Kimberly McIllrath believes antique shops like her Faded Elegance in Snohomish are great places to find “unique and personal gifts” while enjoying a leisurely, low-stress visit, especially during often stressful holiday times.

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CONTACT SCBJ Kurt Batdorf, Editor kbatdorf@scbj.com

Leisurely strolls through antique shops uncover hidden treasures, unique gifts, cool collectibles

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Christmas shopping and holiday entertaining can be stressful but a great anti-stress antidote is to take a leisurely stroll through some of Snohomish County's popular antique, jewelry and collectibles shops.

Snohomish has long been regarded as the Antique Capital of the Northwest because of its Historic District of renovated 1890s homes and businesses, plus dozens of antique stores, restaurants and downtown shopping attractions.

One of the typical — yet singularly unique — antique shops in downtown Snohomish is Kimberly McIllrath's Faded Elegance at 1116 First St. (call 360-568-5333 or visit http://FadedEleganceStyle.blogspot.com on the Internet).

Originally opened in 1998 in Everett, the store has continued to thrive since moving to Snohomish in September 2008. It offers a blend of antiques, garden items, home décor and other gifts.

The store was recently recognized in King5 News' 2009 Best of Western Washington contest. After 190,922 viewer votes, the store was awarded second place as the best antique store for shopping.
Since its opening one year ago on antique's row, Faded Elegance has become an integral part of the quaint atmosphere of downtown Snohomish.

The store recently celebrated its first anniversary with a two-day event to thank its loyal customers, offering discounts and drawings.

“I love being in Snohomish,” McIlrath said. “The building is bigger and the location is great. The historic area of Snohomish has so much character and it just fits so well with the atmosphere of the store and its merchandise.”

A former buyer for Macy's women's dresses, McIlrath worked in retail for more than 25 years before returning to her hometown of Snohomish. Happily, she found space in the same 1890's building that she used to visit as a child when it was the Snohomish Drug Co.

Lizzy's Antiques
& Jewelry
in Marysville is known for quality
merchandise

It's fortunate that Snohomish County has an almost unimaginable variety of antique stores from Lynnwood, Monroe and Silvana to Arlington and Marysville, where Lizzy's Antiques & Jewelry specializes in high-quality 14-karat gold bracelets, diamond rings and necklaces.

“It's unusual for many antique stores to carry so much quality jewelry,” said owner Lizzy Metz, who buys, trades and sells quality items, including earrings.

Located at 1207 2nd St., Ste. B, in Marysville, the store is within sight of I-5 and only a couple of blocks south of the 4th Street interchange.

Lizzy's (360-657-5276) also has the more usual costume jewelry, old purses, china, pocket watches and postcards, as well as sterling silver jewelry, she said.

“We sell a lot of antique diamond rings and other jewelry, along with buying gold, too, but wedding rings and Valentine gifts are among our most popular items,” said Metz, who will celebrate her business' 10th anniversary in February 2010.

“With the economy the way it is, more people are bringing jewelry and other things in for sale and, at the same time, the economy is bringing more people in to buy quality jewelry, especially, at good prices,” she said.