WAUPUN — One of Waupun’s many great local businesses, Finders Keepers is a lesser-known antique store operated by Shari Kemink on the old family farm.
Since the shop is outside of the city proper it isn’t as well known as other local businesses, but due to high reception it’s rapidly growing through word-of-mouth publicity.
The building that currently houses Finders Keepers is an old corn crib that was built in the 60s and 70s. After agricultural technology developed to make corn cribs obsolete, the Kiminks had to decide what to do with the building that sat in the center of the property.
They decided to renovate the building into a hangout for the children and their friends in 2007, as well as a guest apartment in the upstairs loft.
“The goal was to keep the original structure as true as possible,” Kemink said. “Now that the kids are grown we decided to turn it into a vintage store.”
Finders Keepers held their grand opening in fall 2020, during the “Vintage Shop Hop,” a biannual event that spotlights vintage and antique stores in the southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois region.
Finders Keepers sells a wide variety of antiques and vintage items, including glassware, old license plates, paintings, and far more.
“You’ll find antiques, rustic farm finds, authentic vintage decor and kitchenware, MCM, repurposed furniture and interesting quirky collectables,” the shop description says. “Come on in and mosey around while the vinyl records spin. It will take you back in time!”
The store is open from 9AM to 3PM one weekend per month between March and October, with this upcoming weekend—August 17th, 18th, and 19th—as the next official opening. Finders Keepers is also open through appointment and can be contacted through the official Facebook page.
The next time it will be open is September 14th, 15th, and 16th, and after that October 6th and 7th, the same weekend as the Recording Angel Rededication celebration. October 6th-7th is also the weekend for the 2023 Vintage Shop Hop.
Finders Keepers can be found at N3637 Brown Rd, north of the frontage road along Highway 151 and west of Highway 26.
