Lisa Freeman, of Waxhaw, NC, started Sweet Salvage Antiques several years ago. She explains, “I used to be in a big corporate job that was pretty stressful with three little boys, so when I got laid off a number of years ago I knew I had to do something different. I make a lot less money now, but it’s far more fulfilling.”

Her family is from a small town in Northwestern Spain and she spent her summers in the ancient farming town when she was younger. This legacy showed her the value of antiques. “They simply do not make stuff like that now with everything made cheaply in China. My prices are basically the same as those in a HomeGoods, but you get something totally unique, special and of a much better quality.” You can find Sweet Salvage Antiques tucked into the back room at Provisions on W. South Main Street in Downtown Waxhaw.

Freeman had this to say about how she became involved with Provisions, “Owner, Lisa Vigil, and I became friends when she owned Main Street Grill. When she and Ken purchased Provisions Waxhaw, she gave me a call and invited me over for a tour of the shop which I thought was kind of weird since I’d been in it many times. Lisa pulled back a curtain in a space in the back that was previously used for storage and said, ‘this is your spot to do your thing’ and I was pretty stunned. I really had no idea what I would be able to do in a food market, but both Ken and Lisa have given me plenty of freedom to do what I do.

[media-credit name=”Lisa Freeman” align=”alignnone” width=”165″][/media-credit]

I sell lots of farmhouse type decorative stuff that fits the vibe of Provisions, but I’ve also designed some pretty cool Waxhaw t-shirts that sell well, too. I have dog and cat collars that are made locally, jewelry, furniture, gorgeous mirrors and lots of vintage decorative pieces that are salvaged out of homes within a 100 miles radius of Waxhaw. The prices are really reasonable, so you can get something unique and unlike the décor you find in your neighbor’s house. At Provisions, my greatest challenge is how to sell antiques to people who are there to buy delicious sandwiches and organic eggs, but the customers seem to be responding and I’m constantly tweaking the inventory.”