Fran-TasTic Finds Antiques & Curiosities Emporium:
A Hidden, Local Treasure

Story by Katrice Williams 

 

“Each treasure has a history. If each one of these items could tell us what it’s lived through, I’m sure we’d be amazed,” Sheila Jerome states.

Sheila is the owner of Fran-TasTic Finds Antiques & Curiosities Emporium

(Fran-TasTic), which offers a unique array of antique and vintage items. Sheila opened Fran-TasTic on November 11, 2023, being inspired by her cousin Frances; Sheila named the shop in honor of her after Frances passed away in July of that same year. The two cousins adored going “antiquing” together to collect one-of-a-kind items.

Nostalgia

Fran-TasTic offers something for nearly anyone, particularly those rare or nostalgic items that are often difficult to acquire elsewhere. Some customers have been surprised at what they have discovered in the cozy, welcoming shop.

“It’s about finding the unique stuff that will bring back those memories,” Sheila says.

At Fran-TasTic, shoppers may find that vintage Pyrex dish like the one their grandma once owned.

“Some of the things we have are 50-100 years old. They’ve stood the test of time,” she says.

 Whether someone spends $175 on a giant antique plant stand or $1.75 on a Croc bracelet charm, most shoppers walk away with a real treat.

Speaking of treats, Fran-TasTic has a nostalgic candy section next to the register – edible remakes of those sweet treats that many older adults loved during their childhood. Sheila remembers an older man who had recently come to her shop. He was amazed to find a goodie that he had not seen for a long time.

“I haven’t seen butter rum Life Savers in a roll in forever,” he said. He was so thrilled that he bought five packs.

Fran-TasTic Finds

Sheila normally acquires her merchandise from estate sales and auctions in North Georgia. There have been some remarkable items that she has come across, including an old, vintage unicycle.

“I thought to myself, ‘Nobody will ever buy this.’ Well, a few weeks later, a young man came in who had always wanted to ride one. It’s those different things you just can’t walk into a normal store and buy,” she says.

One of Sheila’s favorite finds was a Star Trek telephone. The phone was very rare, and it still worked. A couple purchased it for $65 as a gift for a friend who was an avid Star Trek collector. They later discovered William Shatner’s signature on it; he had signed it as Captain James T. Kirk. The phone was found to be worth nearly $1,000.

“They were overjoyed and thrilled. You just never know what it is you actually have sometimes,” she says.

Gratitude

There are 17 vendors in Sheila’s shop. Each is able to draw a uniquely different customer base. They call themselves the “Fran Fam.”

“They bring a lot of great items in to help serve different customer types. We’re like family. I wouldn’t have the shop I have without the Lord and all my wonderful Fran Fam,” she says.

Sheila is grateful to her husband Robby for all of his love and support through it all.

She also appreciates the relationships that she has been privileged to make with her shoppers.

“It’s a good way to stay connected to people; it’s just about building those relationships,” she says. “To me, they’re not just customers, they’re family.”

Fran-TasTic Finds Antiques & Curiosities Emporium
826 S. Laurel St.
Springfield, GA 31329
(912) 658-9311