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Page 14 The Antique Shoppe May, 2018
These Hidden

ANTIQUES Introducing a new feature Gems Found
for The Antique Shoppe.
SPOTLIGHT features people and places that Among
ANTIQUES SPOTLIGHT

By Laura Sikes stand out in the industry. Florida’s Best-
Kept Secrets

https://www.kenwoodtravel.co.uk/
THE FEED STORE ANTIQUE MALL blog/floridas-best-kept-secrets/
February 21, 2018
“Treating People Like Family” Most of us have heard or even

Mariana Porpora, owner of the Feed Store Antique “We even have a piece of an airplane right now,” visited these Florida attractions
but we found them listed among
Mall in Ellenton, FL, credits her grandmother for leading Klingbeil said. “Florida’s Best Kept Secrets” on
her down the path to a life long passion for antiques. She And if the owners do not have an item that their this travel website/blog from the
has the love of oriental antiques as her grandmother had customers are looking for, they are happy to help them
and has specialized for 40 years in find it. They often will refer customers UK!
collecting and selling them along with to other resources and shops. If you haven’t visited these
a wide variety of antiques. “We have old Florida charm recommended Museums and
Porpora favors vases from the and we try to have friendly service Attractions in recent years plan a
Song Dynasty from the 1300s. and to have interesting things. We visit today. You will be pleasantly
“Unfortunately, she laughs, I still want people to be interested and surprised.
collect oriental vases. But it’s hard to entertained here,” said Klingbeil.
pick just one favorite piece.” Porpora said she enjoys helping *Henry B. Plant Museum
Porpora sold oriental pieces customers learn about antiques. “I’ve
working at first from a booth at the always cared about people. I like Tampa
former Feed Store Antique Mall giving them advice on something they www.plantmuseum.com
before purchasing the business in can have a future with,” she says. Built in 1888 by Henry B. Plant
1999. “We’d like to help them get this historic landmark is a “step
Her son, Alan Klingbeil, manages something that they’ll be able to pass back in time to the early days of
the business with her. Together the down to their children. If you take Tampa.
two native Floridians offer a wide care of it and it’s old enough, it will
variety of antiques carried by about gain value.” *Leu Gardens
50 dealers in their 8,000 square foot During their 20 years in business,
store. Mariana, Alan & Phyllis greet they have served customers from all Orlando
“We work very hard to have quality customers at Feed Store Antique Mall over the world. According to Porpora, www.leugardens.org
dealers selling quality vintage and several thousand customers visit Displaying a wide variety of
antique merchandise,” said Klingbeil. the store per month, including a few tropical plants set in 50 acres
The building built in the 1940s looks like a big country hundred who come on a regular monthly basis. hidden in the metropolis known
feed store with a tin roof. It formerly was used as a Klingbeil says that the company is adapting to the as Orlando. Stroll among 300 year
packing house and a feed store before it housed antiques. changes in business that the internet has brought and old oaks, 57 year old flowers and
A big two-foot-high cow named Phyllis, who dons looks for ways to establish more of a market presence trees and colorful bedding plants.
sunglasses, welcomes customers out front. The store is and for opportunities to be involved in the community.
located near the antebellum Gamble Mansion at Gamble He stresses that they work to “treat people like family.”
Plantation Historic State Park. Not only does the mall serve buyers of merchandise, *Weeki Wachee Springs
Klingbeil jokes that sometimes people will confuse the company also serves its 50 dealers, who range in age Near Spring Hill
us with a real feed store and call us wanting to buy from 19 to 94. www.weekiwachee.com
baby chicks and hay. While the antique mall doesn’t “We try to treat our dealers and customers as family,” One of Florida’s oldest attractions,
offer farm animals, it does carry quite an array of items Klingbeil said. “People are moved to tears when they now a state park, Weeki Wachee
from furniture, lamps, glass, pottery, china, mid-century move out.”
modern, jewelry, art, kitchenware, old glass, records and One beloved dealer, ninety-four-year-old Eleanore Springs has been dazzling and
books. Pagano, has been a fixture at the mall for 10 years. In the entertaining guests since 1947.
antique business for 50 years, Pagano has two booths The only city of live mermaids!

The Feed Store Antique Mall and a case that features her collection of art pottery. She
also sells glass, stereo cards and is known as “the license
4407 US Hwy 301 North plate queen.” *Bok Tower Gardens
Ellenton, FL “I love what I do, and I can’t retire,” said Pagano. Lake Wales
941-729-1379 “She’s a great saleswoman and could sell an Eskimo www.boktowergardens.org
snow,” said Klingbeil. A must visit, a glimpse of the true
www.feedstoreantiquemall.com Porpora also has that same zeal for the business of beauty of natural Florida. Daily
Open 7 Days a Week antiques. carillon concerts at 1pm & 3pm
Mon.—Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Once you get into it, you can’t get out of it.” entertain while walking amongst
Sun. 12-5 p.m. Laura Sikes is a freelance photojournalist who lives in Mount Dora, the gardens.
Fla. Email: lasikes@gmail.com