“It’s a new antique mall.”
Chris Siriano admits that’s a bit of an oxymoron, but it’s the right description of Weird Things One – a new collection of antique dealers in South Haven.
Located at 9145 M-140 in South Haven, Siriano describes Weird Things One as a familiar passion that’s likely the foundation of his future.
“It’s a venture that my daughter, Ali, and I are doing together and it’s a combination of really cool, weird antiques, Victorian items, wood carvings, beautiful wild artwork, and twisted junk. It’s just a cool place.”
Chris Siriano and his daughter Ali Warren opened Weird Things One on November 1.
“My daughter grew up around antiques since she could walk, so she’s the one that’s heading up the South Haven location and she’ll be there every day to greet people and help them out.”
Siriano said they’ve already filled all 20 vendor spaces and are currently designing a modest expansion.
“It’s packed to the gills already. It’s awesome because we opened and people started flocking in. Last Saturday, I think we had almost a hundred people pull in. That it’s that busy already and the antique dealers are pulling in hourly – bringing in truckloads of antiques – is a super awesome situation.”
Why South Haven? Siriano said it’s a location he’s been eyeing for some time.
“I love South Haven. South Haven is a booming community. I’ve always been on the lookout for commercial properties there and this place came up. It was an old, run-down barn/outbuilding combination at a fair price and amazing location. It has huge visibility because it’s the artery that brings people into South Haven from the interstate.”
This isn’t the first antique mall Chris has operated, and it won’t be the last.
“I had an antique mall and business in Riverside and an antique mall in downtown Watervliet, which had a lot of Civil War things. I think I had 32 dealers in there with a menagerie of different cool stuff. So, and it’s definitely something I absolutely love.”
As the name suggests, expansion is on the horizon and Chris said it’s coming soon. At the time of this interview, Siriano was painting the interior of the next location that will open in Eau Claire.
“It’s a big, beautiful building already, but we’re going to put our own little twisted touches on it. We’re shooting for (opening) the second week of December.”
And plans for a third location to open in Spring 2024 are already in the works. Siriano would not confirm the exact location but said it would be located somewhere off M-63.
Chris is the current owner of Siriano Real Estate and the House of David Baseball & Historical Museum. He said he will continue operating those businesses while he gets the antique malls established.
Asked if any of his extensive collection of House of David memorabilia will be on sale, Siriano said no.
“No, probably not. That’s probably going to go to my grandson or my granddaughter someday.”
Weird Things One is located at 9145 M-140 in South Haven. Siriano described it as the first building north of Blue Star Highway at the interchange. They’re open seven days a week – Monday through Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday 12 to 5.
