Antioch's Great Lakes Antiques Boutique opens second store in Grayslake

The owners of Great Lakes Antiques Boutique, the Antioch consignment shop that features wares from about 300 vendors and dealers, are opening a second location in Grayslake.

The Grayslake location opened March 5 and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Lauri Tobias, who owns the store with her husband, Trent Tobias, said that since they opened in Antioch seven years ago, there is a waiting list of vendors and dealers seeking space.

She said the Grayslake location already has on display art, vintage furniture, custom works and artisan goods from about 100 vendors, some of whom were on the waiting list in Antioch.

She said the store is like Etsy - the online handmade item retailer - except that shoppers at the boutique get to see the handcrafted items up close rather than having to scrutinize a photo online. Among the products on sale are vintage pieces and items made with reclaimed materials.

"People are finding that the old stuff is a little better-quality," Lauri Tobias said.

Trent Tobias, a vice president at Great Lakes Group, owned the Grayslake space on Commerce Drive for years, but there already was a tenant ­- Grace Community Bible Church. Last year, the church bought an old Lake Villa District Library building at 1001 E. Grande Ave. for $1.25 million.

Once the couple heard the church was leaving, they began to plan for a second boutique.

"I'm a shopper, too, and have always thought Grayslake needed more retail," Lauri Tobias said. "We've received a great welcome from the community, as well as from many Antioch customers who've come down to see us."

Find out more about the stores at greatlakesantiqueboutique.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/greatlakesantiques.