Arts and Antiques Marketplace, a Fairmont mainstay for four decades, has been bought by Claudio Corp. of Morgantown.
The change of ownership of Arts and Antiques will not be apparent to shoppers, said Dominik Claudio, owner of Claudio Corp. All of Arts and Antiques’ assets, vendor and customer contracts will continue to operate under the Arts and Antiques name, he said.
“We do plan on expanding the arts and antiques,” Claudio said.
The Fairmont consignment shop, located at 205 Adams Street is also known as the Jacobs-Hutchinson building, operates on three of the building’s five floors. Claudio said the old department store layout of the building — built in 1902 — makes it ideal for small businesses to set up shop in the vacant space. Each vacant floor has square-feet of space available for lease, he added.
“Small businesses are the key to revitalization,” Claudio said.
The Fairmont shop is home to 80 vendors who sell a myriad of items including custom pottery, vintage clothing, original art and custom jewelry, furniture, and artisan crafts.
It also offers a variety of classes including how to up cycle old furniture using the latest chalk-painting techniques.
Claudio, who declined to say what he paid for the business, said he was attracted to the business because of the building it is in.
“I was drawn to the building because it is historical,” he said. “I loved it. It is also important to save West Virginia’s historic districts.”
Claudio, an accountant who owns Claudio & Co., a Morgantown accounting firm, also owns Unique Consignment at 3438 University Avenue in Star City. Unique Consignment sells furniture, home goods and collectibles. It also hosts showings by local artists.
