Aurora antiques dealer finds joy in helping others find a link to their past
When it comes to antiques, Glenn Lynch understands the thrill of the hunt and the rush that comes from finding the perfect item at the perfect time at the perfect price.
The owner of Out of the Attic Antiques in Aurora's Fox Valley Center, he enjoys watching his customers search through decades' worth of bottle caps, books, posters, pocket knives and toys that line his shop's walls.
And, the truth is, he enjoys being on the other end of the game, too, prowling yard sales, estate sales and auctions to find items that tickle his collector's fancy.
He recalls the time an older man came into his shop looking at yearbooks from the 1940s and was almost in tears when he somehow came upon one from his parents' high school. Lynch says making people happy like that is one of the best parts of the job.
"I just enjoy being around people who are on the hunt," the Carol Stream resident says.
Lynch got his start in the antiques business after retiring from Frank's Nursery and Crafts. He started by renting a small space from an antiques dealer at Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale. When the owner lost his lease about 11 years ago, the two decided to go into business together by renting the old Frank's building in Naperville. Roughly seven years ago, they split and Lynch moved the store to the Aurora location.
Lynch says he's a big fan of beer collectibles, including signs, bottles and lights.
"It's my favorite thing to look for," he says.
He says he spent years a while back searching for a 4-foot bronze statue of the "Schlitz lady." One day, a man strolled into his store carrying that very statue. It cost Lynch just $75, but he says it's his prize possession and one he won't give up.
But while finding the perfect item to buy is fun, it's not exactly how you make enough money to keep your shop open at 4054B Fox Valley Center. That takes some serious selling.
"It makes me feel good as the shop owner," Lynch says, "that somebody came in looking for something for maybe a couple years and they finally found it at Out of the Attic Antiques."
Moving Picture
Everyone has a story. Moving Picture is that story. Our photojournalists tell that story in words and sounds, pictures and video, giving you insight in to the fascinating people that surround us everyday. Send us your Moving Picture ideas to movingpicture@dailyherald.com.