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The Brass Lantern opens on Madison

By ZOË WATKINS - zwatkins@t-g.com
Posted 12/3/22

The Brass Lantern is more than an antique store located at 1608 Madison in Shelbyville. With room for over 60 local vendors, anyone looking for that special—and unique—holiday gift can …

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The Brass Lantern opens on Madison

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The Brass Lantern is more than an antique store located at 1608 Madison in Shelbyville. With room for over 60 local vendors, anyone looking for that special—and unique—holiday gift can probably find it and maybe even a little more.

The bazaar-style boutique and antique store is owned by John Adams and his wife and son Barbara and Austin as well as managed by Cliff Hirst. They had their soft opening the day after Thanksgiving, and according to Hirst, had a full house. 

“We’ve got a broad mix. It's really kind of a cross between antique and boutique,” he said. “People, as you can see are mixing, and it’s working pretty well.” 

Hirst recalls getting out of college and buying an antique dresser at an auction, which started his love for “old things."

Hirst admits he’s more of a “primitive and rusty” antiques kind of guy. He used to be the general manager of Antiques, Art, and Collectibles on the Shelbyville Square before it closed last summer.

The Brass Lantern building itself used to be a grocery store and a furniture store before it closed last December. Even though they’ve done a lot of work to transform the austere atmosphere into a vintage market there’s still plenty of work to be done. 

Like with the new café, adjoining the market, called Gracie’s Café and Creamery. It’s planned to open around February, Hirst said. In addition to serving soft serve ice cream, the upscale café and deli will have sandwiches and coffee.   

From the time they first walked in to now, Hirst said the business has “kept growing.” 

In the back, they plan to put in a multimedia room to host meetings and birthdays, making The Brass Lantern more than just a store on Madison.

“The idea is to get people here, and with food, ice cream, drinks—how can you go wrong with that?” said Hirst. “We’re trying to make it all fun and interesting.”  

They will also be hosting “Mr. And Mrs. Santa Claus” the next three weekends where families can come get their pictures taken from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Brass Lantern. They will also be giving toys out to the little girls and boys who have been good this year.