Historic North Creek church is now a shopping sanctuary

NORTH CREEK | There's a new shopping destination for antiques, art, vintage home furnishings and collectibles in North Creek, and it's housed in an unexpected building — the former North Creek United Methodist Church. The proprietor of the unique store entitled "Kirche" is Jennifer Zimmerman, who has a deep respect for the historic structure and a longtime interest in amassing an eclectic array of items. Kirche's inventory includes wall art, furniture, frames, glassware, vintage metal toys, baskets, artisanal creations, china, designer fabrics, hand-knitted throws, Christmas decorations, and curiosities from past eras — items that she has spent many years collecting, she said during a recent visit to the store. "The most common reaction from people when they walk in here, is they say 'Wow'," she said. "By having this shop, I'm able to make people happy — They enjoy their time here." Styles of the art and furnishings include art deco, nouveau, primitive, depression, rustic and primitive. Treasure hunting at Kirche recently uncovered such discoveries as a rare boxed collection of yellow-vinyl Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" recordings, an array of antique opera glasses, and spice jars from the early 1900s. Zimmerman explained her approach in curating the wares for her shop — items she's collected over 30 years, during which she's traveled to more than a dozen countries overseas, visiting 40 or so cities. "I could fill up this church four times with things I've collected over the years. I like quirky, exotic and esoteric stuff," Zimmerman said, pointing out what might be a vintage veterinarian's suture set and a device identified as a "double-ring garnisher." "I don't know what these things are, but someday, someone will walk in here and tell me what they are," she said. The store's inventory is bathed in sunlight beaming in through 12-feet tall stained glass windows of the former sanctuary. The ambiance of her store reflects her respect for history. When Zimmerman acquired the church about four years ago, she had the deed of the property, dated 1879, framed and hung on the wall. Also, she donated a stack of the church's historical documents to the Johnsburg Historical Society, One upcoming project of hers, she said, is to restore the church's original carillon, she said. "There's a lot of history here, and I love it when people come into the store and tell me their stories about this church — where the 'bad kids' sat during services, who got married here, when the last time was they attended a service here — all the stories really just add to the beauty of this place," she said. In transitioning the former church into a store, Zimmerman has renovated the wiring, painted the exterior, and made various repairs to the structure. "I think of this shop as a way to bring this church back to life," she said. Apparently, townspeople have appreciated her efforts. "So far, the response has been overwhelming," Zimmerman said, noting that area residents have expressed their support for her venture. "People have been generous, kind and warm when they come in here; many of them are thrilled the church is being restored," she said. "People who walk in the door are rooting for me....I really do feel that this is a community venture, and it's going to be successful — not because of me, but because of the people around me."

Signup for our newsletter

Historic North Creek church is now a shopping sanctuary

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS