A historic building has been given new life and a new antique mall has opened its doors in the sleepy little village of New Paris, Ohio. A year after purchasing the building, owners of the New Paris Antique Mall celebrated their grand opening on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Owners Keith and Linda Kelley of Vandalia, Ohio, had been looking for years for the perfect location for opening an antique mall business and found just what they were looking for on a chance drive through New Paris. Their criteria for the perfect location was threefold.  First, it had to be close to an interstate highway. [New Paris is just two miles from the I-70 Richmond Exit 156-B on St. Rt. 320, and one mile off of St. Rt. 40.] Second, it had to be in a small town with local interest. [Although not widely known, New Paris has a lot to offer to tourists and visitors. See details below.] And last, but certainly not least, they were looking for a fixer-upper that was within their means to purchase and renovate. [The price definitely was right and to say that the circa 1873 three-story building was a fixer-upper would be a drastic understatement. It was widely believed by New Paris townfolk that the third floor, and perhaps the whole building, was condemned.] But the Kelleys, no strangers to renovating old properties, were undaunted by the task before them, and with the help of family and friends, have given the historic building a much-deserved overhaul.

Originally built in 1873 by the IOOF (Independent Order of Oddfellows), during its 136 years standing in the center of New Paris at 102 E. Main Street, this grand old building played host to traveling medicine shows, Grand Army of the Republic dinners, and operated as a movie house, a grocery store, and a furniture store. After years of neglect and ruin, the renovation and beautification of this grand old building and the new antique business has generated a lot of excitement and appreciation from residents and village leaders in New Paris. The Kelleys also purchased and renovated the two small commercial buildings beside the Mall. Tenant Bonnie Hoff opened the Unique Boutique, a new ladies consignment clothing store, in one of the buildings on May 1st, 2009, and the other building is available for lease.

Located in the heart of the famous Antique Alley Trail 2, the Mall is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.  For more information, contact the Keith Kelley at (937)437-0048.