by Kate Evans
If you’re hunting holiday décor, vintage items or unique gifts, the Whistle Stop, a new Berkeley Springs multi-vendor shopping mall, offers antiques, collectibles, memorabilia, novelties and more.
The Whistle Stop originally opened August 30 and recently had its grand opening on October 26. It is located at 381 North Washington Street beside the Berkeley Springs Post Office.
Items that can be found at The Whistle Stop include wall hangings, glassware, ceramics, kitchen pieces, greeting cards, decorative items, candies, candles, wreaths, baskets, homemade pastries, baseball cards, trading cards, coins and garden flags.
Additional items that vendors offer include baby clothes, dolls, boots and shoes, hats, cookbooks, cookie jars, floral arrangements, arts and crafts, Christmas ornaments and fudge.
“We have just about everything. Some could be gifts. It’s a nice place to shop for Christmas,” said owner Brenda Farris.
Vendors, history
Farris said that a variety of vendors rent space from her to sell their wares. She has over 50 vendors featured in her building and it’s still growing. Farris has a waiting list, but is still accepting vendor names and phone numbers for booths. The vendors have done a great job in arranging their products in their booths, she said.
Farris said she called her business The Whistle Stop because of the building’s location across the street from the Berkeley Springs Train Depot.
Farris said she grew up by the building The Whistle Stop is in and the train depot and played there when she was young. Her husband Dayton Farris bought the building from Sonny Hovermale in 1995. The couple had an antique shop and an auction house onsite.
STS International rented the building from them for a number of years, then they moved from Berkeley Springs. Farris didn’t want the building to stay empty and the Hancock Antique Mall was being sold. She got some of the Hancock Antique Mall vendors to relocate to The Whistle Stop and acquired some of their employees too.
“It’s been a journey,” Farris said.
Family helps out
Farris’ granddaughter Lilah Dugan helps her manage The Whistle Stop. Dugan does the baking as part of her Storybird Bakery business. Farris’ daughter Dia Dugan and Farris’ grandson Harrison help out too.
Farris said she’s currently full but is expanding. A lot of vendors rotate. She’ll continue to make improvements as the business grows.
Hours
The Whistle Stop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 304-944-7086.
