FARMINGTON — Old Ford Antiques and Collectables is moving to 113 Oakes St. in West Farmington.

It is leaving its spot on Wilton Road because Aubuchon Hardware is in the process of purchasing the property. The hardware store plans to expand into the other section of the building, manager Brenda Fronk said. The sale is not finalized, she said, but Aubuchon officials have told her to secure a snow-removal business for this winter.

Aubuchon has been very busy at the former site of Gray Ford Sales, Fronk said.  She attributes the growth of customers to the closings of Agway and Wilton Hardware, the sale of Dexter Supply to Hammond Lumber and the addition of Stihl products, she said.

Although the approximate dozen vendors who moved into the garage salesroom over two years ago have done well at the location, building owner James Meader told vendors he had a chance to sell the property, vendor David Clark said.

Attempts to reach Meader on Monday were unsuccessful.

David and Betty Clark of Vienna were vendors at the Mt. Blue Market Place before it closed to make room for Big Lots. They asked a handful of vendors to continue their sales of antiques and collectibles and join them at the former garage showroom.

About half of the original dozen vendors who started there are still there, vendor Fred O. Smith said. Others have joined, making a total of 13 vendors at the West Farmington site, which opened Saturday.

Smith was working at the Wilton Road site Monday. Although the vendors need to be out by Nov. 10, the Wilton Road shop will stay open while items are packed, he said.

When Meader told the Clarks about the proposed property sale, Clark asked Betsy Brady about renting the Oakes Street property, he said.

Whistle-Stop Antiques was already there, but owners Rose Talbot and Barbara Hodgkins decided to join the Old Ford Antiques and Collectibles vendors, Earl Martin said has he manned the West Farmington shop.

There is less space for each vendor — about a third of what they had. Some only have a table; others have a booth, he said. Items such as Depression glass, jewelry and furniture are neatly arranged.

There are items for a few dollars and other higher-end antiques and collectibles, Clark said.

“We’re like a big family,” Clark said of settling into the new location together. Three Navy veterans, Clark, Smith and Martin, oversee the vendor operation along with Clark’s wife.

The store will be open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Martin said.

The West Farmington building was originally built for grain and located beside the former railroad bed, Clark said. For years, outdoor machinery was sold there, and it has housed several small businesses since.

Both the Clarks retired and got interested in buying and selling items, David said. They go out shopping on weekends and make house calls to look at items, he said.

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