New antiques shop The Lucky Magpie set to open in Chesterfield

The Lucky Magpie on Hollis Lane is the brainchild of Suzie Kujawinski who is hoping to attract all ages with her Aladdin’s cave of treasures which launches on Saturday, September 4.

Suzie, 38, said: "When you walk through the doors you're taken on a journey through each room from everything for a church feel to everything to do with tins. There’s a separate section for cigarette machines and boxes, leading onto a man cave garage with walls of enamel signs and oil cans, then through to a room of kitchenalia.

"Upstairs, there’s vintage clothing from early 1900s to 1980s, everything from Greek dresses to Americana to what you might see on Downton Abbey.

"I’m wanting to open up the possibility of buying antiques and salvage to a younger generation, that an item may be classified as antique but it’s cool, it’s unique, it will work in your home.”

Suzie, who describes her own look as vintage with a unique twist, said: “I’ve always had an interest in antiques and vintage clothing. As a kid I always wanted to go to charity shops and look around and see what I could find. It’s that adventure and that curiosity of what you might find going into places.”

She has already attracted a lot of interest for one collection at The Lucky Magpie – an assortment of rare Rowntree items which dates back to the early 1900s. They include a miniature baseball bat filled with tiny silver balls that would decorate cakes and a tin which doubles as a pin cushion. She salvaged these items from private collectors and a museum in York.

Two life-size figures will greet visitors to The Lucky Magpie. Suzie said: “Phil is an American soldier, like you would see on The Last of the Mohicans film – he will be available for selfies. There’s also an American football player who I’ve positioned in a corner with sharks so it looks as though he’s running away from them.”

Upcycled lamps made from engine parts, copper pipes and cogs will also be for sale in the shop. Suzie, who lives in Chesterfield, said: “I'm a massive supporter of people that love to upcycle and make things that are slightly unique.”

Suzie has spent six weeks gutting and transforming the former fireplace shop into a base for the antique and upcycled treasures. “I chose the building because it was in a great location and it’s got a story,” said Suzie, who was helped in the redevelopment of the site by a team from Easy Living Landscaping. “It was an old coach house and we’ve found several nooks and crannies while we’ve been renovating it.”

Prior to opening The Lucky Magpie, Suzie traded at big antiques fairs in Newark, Lincoln, London and has supplied props to BBC television and Pinewood Studios. She said: “I’ve been dealing in antiques and salvage for many years but under the radar.”

She has a creative background, scouting and signing artists such as Vincent Kamp, working in urban art and curating a street art festival in Nottingham.

The Lucky Magpie will be open from Wednesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4pm and on Sunday from 11am to 3pm.

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