by Mari Radtke
For more than 23 years, Steve and Marlys Hartong have owned one of Paullina Main Street’s feature retail properties. For 20 of those years Steve has faithfully opened his antique and collectible store to the public, usually 6 days a week. A feature he has provided since the beginning is a great cup of coffee and a welcoming space to sit and visit. As Steve prepared to legally serve the variety of flavored and regular coffees he learned from the health department inspector, “You can serve food,” referring to the licensing. It was a one size fits all. He added a lunch menu of soups and sandwich selections, also with baked goods. “I’m gonna miss the cinnamon rolls,” one customer told Steve! Another asked where he was going to get a “good reuben.”
A small building east across Main Street was acquired additional show room and receiving/repair space for new inventory. A 2007 devastating fire next door gave Iowa State Bank an opportunity to eventually purchase the space after the fire to build a new and spacious location. Steve was particulary pleased with his ability to salvage the many items he had put into the second building for sale or reuse. A lot of the trim he had made by hand or upgraded the narrow building himself.
In 2008, Bock Suite was opened. The second story apartment was rented for a night or several nights. The spacious 3-bedroom short term rental featured a skylight roof over the dining room, a large living area, kitchen, even laundry. An outside back deck made the unit especially attractive.
The concept of an antique store in Paullina was not new. Prior to the Hartongs offering the store, an antique market stood in the space with booths rented by many vendors, including Steve. An off-the-cuff comment he made to a friend was overheard and became truth, something to the effect, “I think an antique store would be a good idea.” The owners of the building, the Paullings who had lived in the Bock Suite and operated a grocery store heard the comment and approached the Hartong’s to buy it. Eventually the sale was completed and the venture to remodel the building and open antique store began.
Steve recounted the initial steps of removing 7 coolers and freezers still in side since 1982. “That was a real challenge to them out. I gave away 1 working freezer to a Rock Rapids charity. I told them if they come get it they can have it.” And they did. He replaced the furnace and rebuilt the front end. Two of his brothers in law helped with that off-and-on spring cold weather project. The tin ceiling was replaced. Some of it is original. The crown molding, Steve says is original and is a real feature.The ceiling has 7 different patterns.
Steve and Marlys spent a lot of time cleaning the brick inside with vinegar and steel wool. It took a year to get the linoleum glue to fully come off the original tongue and groove wood floor.
Steve has made Paullina collectibles available for years. He says, “It’s sad that young people aren’t interested in history – often even family history. “Nostalgia doesn’t kick in until about age 40,” he said, describing a life-cycle that doesn’t always make room for nostalgia. Steve has been a defacto caretaker of Paullina history stuff. “With no museum I don’t know what I’m gonna do with it yet,” commented Steven.
Since announcing the store closure, many friends have reached out from all over. “It makes you feel good. I get a hug. Some offer prayers,” he said. He and Marlys have limited travel plans. “Maybe some day trips here or there.” He and Marlys are staying in Paullina.
Steve recently sold the building for a purpose that he has searched for, even declining offers to buy. The sale went to a young couple from Cherokee who, he says, will live in the upstairs and operate a photo studio in the street level retail space. “[This plan] is community-focused. It keeps Main Street with a community feel,” Steve explained. It was how he wanted the property to carry on.
“It’s been a fun run,” Steve said.