Shopping: Streets of London Antiques

Cary, NC — I stopped by Streets of London Antiques on W. Chatham Street and met owner Gillian Zonruiter, who told me all about the imported furniture she sells right here in Cary.

Streets of London Antiques

Last week, on a rainy afternoon, I stopped by a store I’ve always been curious about – Streets of London Antiques on W. Chatham Street. You’ve probably seen the white house before.

The shop is beautiful and homey – the perfect place to wander around on a chilly, rainy day. As an “old soul,” I was attracted to the store’s charm at first sight.

Owner Gillian Zonruiter greeted me right when I walked in the door. Gillian, or Gill, is from North England, near Liverpool, and she moved to Cary with her husband eight years ago.

They opened Streets of London one year later.

In the store, you’ll find furniture imported from England along with antique lamps, dishes, silver and jewelry. The jewelry immediately caught my eye. “Furniture is my focus, but I love jewelry,” Gill told me. “Owning this store gives me the perfect excuse to buy it,” she joked.

Gill is constantly searching for quality additions to bring to the store. She still has contacts in England who help her select antiques to bring to Cary, but she also bids and maintains relationships with auction houses here in the U.S. to find furniture and other items.

Customers

Many of Gill’s customers live around the world, and others live right here in the Triangle.

Antique-lovers can either shop in the 4,000 square foot Cary showroom or purchase items from the Streets of London website. Gill ships her furniture all across the U.S. to customers who live far away from Cary. “A lot of my customers have become friends,” she told me.

“One customer from Minneapolis bought some chairs from me online, and he ended up calling me every week to chat. He and his husband are interested in moving here, so they’re planning to come for a visit. One of my local customers – an English guy who bought a clock from me – is a real estate agent, so I’ve put the two in touch to talk about possibilities in this area.”

The antique community is a tight one, that’s for sure.

As someone who has saved her grandma’s pieces, antiques are special to Gill, and she’s met a lot of customers who share that appreciation.

Reception This Weekend

This Sunday, October 4, 2015, Gill is hosting a meet and greet reception in her store.

Stop by for wine and cheese, 20% off purchases and a chance to meet fellow antique lovers. The event is sponsored by Streets of London, NCG Real Estate and Sage Raleigh.

Meet & Greet
Sunday, October 4, 2015; 3-7 pm
Streets of London Antiques, 928 W. Chatham Street, Cary

You can stay in touch with Streets of London on Facebook.

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Story and photos by Jessica Patrick.

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CaryCitizen is sponsored in-part by Heart of Cary Association.