This month Montgomery Antiques & Interiors is shining its Vendor Spotlight on The Unicorn Shop’s owner, Jean Sellers. The Unicorn Shop is one of the oldest antique businesses in Montgomery, Alabama. It has been a favorite shopping spot for generations of families who love and live with antique furnishings. Jean and her business partner, the late Pattie Gayle, opened their business in the heart of Montgomery’s Mulberry Shopping District in 1984. The shop’s name was inspired by the royal lion and unicorn of England, where they traveled often to buy antique inventory.
The Unicorn Shop was a new sort of shopping experience for the community at that time… going beyond offering just antiques by adding new complementary accents to create a one stop shopping experience. Customers looked forward to the arrival of The Unicorn Shop’s shipments from England twice a year… an array of antiques personally selected by Jean and Pattie on their buying trips abroad. Just take a look at these photos to see the treasures to be found in the shop… then and now.
Traditional decor accents, fine lighting, original art, garden statuary, sterling, crystal, brass, porcelain, etc. were stocked as well. The Unicorn Shop was a perfect place for individuals and designers alike to find just the right piece for a room or perfect gifts for special occasions. And it still is.
Not much has changed over the years… only The Unicorn Shop’s location. Since the business moved into MAI several years ago, Jean’s spaces (always packed full with wonderful antique and reproduction merchandise) are some of the most popular spaces with MAI shoppers. Just as at the old Mulberry Street location the same wonderfully diverse selection of merchandise is offered with good antiques always taking center stage.
And, as always, Jean loves to be on hand to visit with her clientele, share her vast knowledge of antiques, and offer design insights. With her lifetime of experience in antiques arena and her classic style aesthetic she has been a mentor and friend to many younger collectors and new antique dealers throughout the years.
When asked what advice she would give young people who are furnishing there homes she replied “Use antiques.You get more value. Once you use antiques you won’t be happy with new. Buy something you love and you will always be happy.”
Jean brings in new inventory regularly so come by often to visit with her and see the newest lovely additions to The Unicorn Shop’s spaces inside Montgomery Antiques & Interiors.
