From left: manager Ryan Hinton and owners Julee and Bradbury Ketelhut stand outside 60 Main Art and Antiques in Wiscasset. (Haley Bascom photo)
60 Main Art and Antiques, appropriately named for its location at 60 Main St. in Wiscasset, is set to open Saturday, June 11.
Owners Bradbury and Julee Ketelhut said the only guiding term for their store is “eclectic,” as it features a mixture of antique and contemporary art.
“We don’t have a theme,” Julee said. “We want people to come in and go ‘Wow, what’s going on? I love it!’”
Bradbury is a second-generation antique dealer who learned to love the trade from his father, Robert Ketelhut. Bradbury began antique dealing at 18, giving him 20 years of experience. In Vail, Colo., where he and his wife live full-time, he owns and operates another art and antique shop, Alpen Art and Antiques.
The Ketelhuts hope to move to Maine for summer seasons in the future, but for now their store will be run by Ryan Hinton. Hinton worked for the Ketelhuts at their antique store in Vail. When they asked if he’d consider moving to Maine to run their new antique shop, Hinton said he didn’t hesitate.
“It’s so special that I was given this opportunity. I want to take it and run with it,” said Hinton. Being 26 years old, Hinton said the experience of running the store was a career move he couldn’t turn down.
“I want to learn as much as possible,” said Hinton.
Bradbury said one of the challenging parts of his career has been trying to attract the younger generation. He said the mistake many antiques shop make now is not trying to adapt.
“Younger people just aren’t getting into antiques as much,” said Bradbury.
That’s why they want their store to be adaptive and more of an experience to educate and cultivate new collectors.
Within the store are typical antiques collected throughout the world, but also installments from living artists and sculptors.
Bradbury said he accepts there will be a learning curve for the area, but looks forward to feeling out the community’s tastes. He was visiting Wiscasset last fall for the first time when he saw the shop space for sale. Three months later, he was signing the deed.
“We really jumped,” he said. “It was one of those welcoming and friendly towns.”
The grand opening at 60 Main Art and Antiques will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 11.
