MINEOLA, TX (KLTV) -
All summer long, we've been staycating in East Texas, discovering those great little vacation opportunities we can all do on a budget.
The great part about staycating in these different towns is finding what's unique about a certain place. And in Mineola, one of the first things people tell you -- you're going to find your antiques. There are a lot of antique shops within a two or three block radius, and I was able to go to two of them to see what all the fuss is about.
"I think it's the uniqueness. You don't find this stuff anywhere. This is -- they don't make this anymore and it makes your home feel warm," said Karen Gray, owner of Karen's Korner. "Every piece has a story to tell. You look at it and it gives a lot of character."
"You'll find anything from vintage Star Wars collectibles to records and signed sports memorabilia, art work, junk, shabby chic, primitive, nice furniture, glassware, linens, the list goes on and on," said Melissa Walker, sole proprietor of Uniques & Antiques.
And both Walker and Gray say the best thing about antiquing is you can find anything on any budget ... whether it costs a quarter or hundreds of dollars.
"We also deal," Gray said. "We do come down on the price. We do that periodically. But I think these second-hand shops, which they all are, are a lot cheaper than going and buying it new.You have a better select of things and it's just a lot cheaper."
Walker said there's a reason people come back to Mineola to antique time and time again.
"I think a lot of people tend to walk down memory lane when they come in here," she said. "I hear very often, my mother used to have this or my grandpa used to use this or so and so had one just like this or we used to have this and we threw it away."
And for Walker, there's another aspect to the treasure people find in her store, too.
"I don't enjoy stuff that falls apart easily, that comes from a different country," she said. "This stuff is tried and true and is proven to hold up and last."
Just across Main Street is another Mineola treasure -- the Select Theater, a Texas landmark.
"You are sitting right now in the oldest continuing operating movie theater in the state of Texas," said Mike Holbrook, executive director of the Lake Country Playhouse. "We've been showing movies since 1920. This is our 92nd year, and we've been able to play along with the technological upgrades that the industry's thrown at us."
The theater has been able to keep going in large part because of its partnership with the Lake Country Playhouse, which brings live performances to Mineola throughout the year.
"There's a hunger for live performance out here. You can go to all the movies you want to, but if you were to take a play that does six performances and you were to see all six shows, you'd see a different performance every night," Holbrook said.
With its 1948 art deco décor and its rich history, Holbrook knows why people keep coming back.
"We just offer them something here without having to drive a great distance. It's a one-shop destination around here," he said. "You can come in here early, get your shopping done. You can eat at one of the fine establishments in the area and then come see a live show."
The Lake Country Playhouse is holding auditions for its September show this coming Monday and Tuesday. For details about the theater or the playhouse, visit their website.
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