Historic Mullica Hill Village is listed on the National & State Register of Historic Places and is the perfect setting for this venue as we’re a charming and historic antiques destination. South Jersey Magazine chose Mullica Hill as Best Antiquing District in 2010 and several shops as Best of the Best to Step Back in Time.

Last year this event drew hundreds of visitors to our village and the antique dealers were busy from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. We had four food venders & music on hand to add to the excitement. If you’re an antiques dealer and would like to participate in this show you may go to our web site www.mullicahill.com , click on events and print out a contract. Or call The Front Porch Antiques (856) 478-6556 and ask for Judy

by Jennifer Kelley of South Jersey Magazine

In Gloucester County, the Mullica Hill Merchants Association plans and sponsors year-round events featuring everything from an arts festival to a Civil War re-enactment to holiday caroling, all providing the town’s rows of retailers with a steady customer base. Based in one of many landmark buildings along Mullica Hill’s Main Street, the nonprofit association also puts out an annual brochure that details the shopping district’s many attractions, events and store offerings, says its secretary, Judy Salvino, who owns The Front Porch Antiques there.

The historically registered town, known for its quaint, nostalgic appeal, is also working to develop an online presence, complete with an e-mail newsletter blast to keep plugged-in patrons informed and garner newcomers. “Even with the economy the way that it is right now, we feel blessed here,” Salvino says, noting that any store owners who have left in the last year were already planning to retire, and new businesses are beginning to invest in available properties.

While Mullica Hill is playing off its old-world reputation, some historic South Jersey towns—most prominently, Collingswood—have adopted a business tool that has made modern malls successful: management. Collingswood Partners, Inc. is a nonprofit management corporation that oversees the borough’s three Business Improvement Districts through an 11-member board of directors, including a full-time professional manager who handles daily operations, helps new businesses set up shop and runs collective advertising campaigns.

Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 6 Issue 9 (December, 2009).
Read full article on SouthJersey.com

In a world seemingly obsessed with HDTV, fast cars, and always being “connected,” sometimes it’s nice to find a place to enjoy fresh air, a casual stroll and a good meal. South Jersey residents don’t need to pack their suitcase for such an escape, though — they just need to visit the village of Mullica Hill in Harrison Township. Known as the antiquing capital of the area, the village, with a population of just over 10,000 people, offers a mix of quaint antiques shops and historical buildings that will whisk any curious visitor back in time with just a stroll down Main Street.

“I think of our town as a destination,” says Judy Salvino, secretary of the Mullica Hill Merchants’ Association and owner of The Front Porch Antiques. “It’s a gem for Gloucester County.” Salvino’s shop, found within the ground floor of a seven-room farmhouse built in 1840, is just one of a group of independent antiques shops that are housed in some of the town’s landmark buildings. The Yellow Garage antiques co-op used to be a bus station. The Warehouse, an indoor shopping arcade, was once the train station. The Old Mill antiques mall was, true to its name, a grist mill.

Many of the charming buildings in the 20-square-mile town are prime examples of Victorian architecture. “We’re not only an antiques district, but a historical district with all the charm,” says Salvino. “People come in to shop and appreciate the building and ask all sorts of questions.”

If hunger strikes while they’re shopping, visitors can don some white gloves and proper manners when they visit Amelia’s Tea & Holly, a very popular teahouse located in what was once the old post office. While Amelia’s often holds parties, showers and get-togethers for the Red Hat Ladies, small groups can also simply drop in for a spot of tea and some fresh-baked scones with cream and jam.

For a more casual nosh, the Stir It Up coffee house serves custom brews set to a soundtrack of live music in the evenings, while blueplate serves gourmet American cuisine and has been hailed by food critics as offering some of the region’s best risotto.

After eating, check out the area shops along Main Street, where evidence of the town’s many beautification projects are on view. New trees, flowers and sidewalks have already been installed, and new Victorian-style gas lamps will soon join them.

For funky designer clothing and accessories from brands like Vera Bradley and Brighton, stop in Allanna’s. Barbara Millar Jewelry, found inside The Warehouse, sells handmade artisan pieces in sterling silver alongside vintage options. The Mullica Hill Quilt Co. offers an ocean of fabric to browse through for your quilting project, along with classes for novice sewers. Or try
Sisters for special home décor items or the perfect hostess gift.

With so many retailers packed within a few blocks, area merchants recently banded together to plan the first Antiques Street Fair. Held on April 26, Main Street was transformed into an outdoor parade of fine furniture, estate jewelry and accessories as Mullica Hill antiques shops displayed their wares alongside those of other Gloucester County shops. Wine and cheese were served up at the Heritage Station Wine Tasting Party, and musicians filled the air with tunes.

Salvino says the response by both the shops and the public was so great, the event is sure to return again soon. “I think we’ve finally found our niche,” she says.

Those who missed the antiques fair can experience another popular event when the June Festival of the Antiques is held on June 13. This massive show highlights local vendors, as well as those from across New Jersey and out of state, as they set up shop at the Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds. Or mark your calendar for another of the village’s many other annual events. Sidewalk sales offer bargains every spring and fall, while the Halloween season brings out the town’s original residents during the Mullica Hill Ghost Walk.

Along with its shopping and festivals, Mullica Hill is also known for its sense of history. The village was placed on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historical Places in 1991. Those looking to learn more about that charming past should stop by the Harrison Township Historical Society’s building, which is the refurbished Old Town Hall. Besides the building being a beautiful attraction in itself, the society’s rotating exhibits entertain and inform while experts on the area’s history share details
on which structures in town to visit.

Salvino, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years, says local residents appreciate the unique vibe their village offers. “They are proud when they bring company into downtown,” she says. “It’s such a wonderful feel living here. You can walk to restaurants, walk to get coffee. It’s just very charming to have these things here.”

Original article posted by Gloucester County On the Move in Spring/Summer 2009.

Mullica Hill is a well-restored historic town in the heart of South Jersey farmland. Here’s where you can get the best of then and now, with a few surprises along the way.

The Old Mill Antique Center on Main Street in Mullica Hill is one of the largest co-ops in the area. Photo courtesy of mullicahill.com.

Something Old:

The Old Mill Antique Center
(1 S. Main St., 856-478-9810,
www.oldmillantiques.zoomshare.com) is three stories of antique wonderland set inside a pre-Revolutionary War mill. Variety is key—it’s one of the largest co-ops in the area.

The readers in your group will want to check out Murphy’s Loft-Books, Ephermera and Magazines (53 N. Main St., 856-478-4928,
murphysbookloft.com), a maze of used books, magazines and sheet music. Yes, they buy used books, too.

Something New:

Get the latest and greatest race gear at the South Jersey Running and Triathlon Company
(86 N. Main St., 856-223-9350, www.runningco.com). They stock any kind of gear you could use, whether you prefer to run, bike, swim, or do all three.

The Mullica Hill Quilt Company offer quilting classes. Photo courtesy of mullicahill.com.

Want to make your own something new? Go to Mullica Hill Quilt Company
(43 S. Main St., 856-478-2243,
www.mhquiltco.com), where you can either buy a handmade quilt or choose from quilting books, fabrics, and patterns to do it yourself. Don’t know how? They offer quilting classes.

Something Borrowed:

For more vintage items, check out the Front Porch Antiques
(21 S. Main St., 856-478-6556,
www.thefrontporchantiques.com), which stocks antique furniture–and buys your classic pieces, too.

If you’re into what shimmers and shines, stop in at Mullica Hill Jewelry & Repair
(49 S. Main St., 856-223-9449), which sells new and estate jewelry and watches. As the name suggests, they’ll fix your favorites, and size and set items, too.

You can pick up some wine at the Heritage Station Winery. Photo courtesy of heritagestationwine.com.

Something Blue:

To get the best of Jersey fresh, sit for a meal at blueplate (47 S. Main St., 856-478-2112,
blueplatenj.com), a cozy BYOB serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Stop in at Heritage Station Winery
(480 Mullica Hill Rd., 856-589-4474,
www.heritagestationfruit.com) if you’d like a local bottle with your meal, or fresh produce and bakery treats to take home.

For a caffeine fix, check out Stir it Up Coffeehouse
(48 N. Main St., 856-478-0024,
www.stiritupcoffeehouse.com), which offers season-themed drinks, soups, salads, sandwiches, and sweet treats–and board games if you’re bringing the kids.

Original article posted by NJMonthly.com on 10/15/2008.

One shop after another awaits browsers in the southern part of town in Mullica Hill, N.J.

MULLICA HILL, N.J. — Walk into the Old Mill Antique Mall in Mullica Hill, N.J., and most likely you will come to a complete stop, take a deep breath and utter, “whoa.” Mountains of old objects stacked from floor to ceiling cram the space ahead as far as the eye can see. Items such as sports memorabilia, glassware, vintage clothing and oak furniture can be viewed via narrow labyrinths on three floors. A warm feeling settles in as you peruse the merchandise displayed in more nooks and crannies than an English muffin. Whether you are 24 or 54, thoughts of, “my grandmother had one of these,” come to mind.

Customers are reflected in an old mirror in Hilltop Restaurant on Main Street.

That sense of nostalgia envelopes this South Jersey town and any visitor who chooses to wander up and down the main avenue, peek inside an antique store or a chat with one of its friendly dealers can come under its spell.

“All the shops are homes that have been restored,” said Judy Salvino who along with husband, Jim, own The Front Porch Antiques. About 55 antique stores with more than 30 in the Old Mill Antique Mall, built in 1886, dot the main thoroughfare – aptly earning it the nickname “Antiques Country.” But the retrospective doesn’t end with the shopping. With an ancestry dating back to the 1700s and an abundance of renovated Victorian houses, the entire town secured a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 along with a spot on the New Jersey State Register of Historic Places.

Free parking abounds, so leave your car to experience the quaint charm of this mile-long Main Street by walking. Shops, old and new, are intertwined with the restored homes. In the middle of the village sits one of the most beautiful of these houses – the taupe-colored ReMax real estate building trimmed in mauve and teal. Don’t forget to explore the short side streets that also hold more of these gems.

Judy Salvino sets an old-fashioned table at The Front Porch Antiques, which she owns along with her husband, Jim.

The Front Porch Antiques offers fine large pieces of Colonial Revival (from 1880-1920) furniture and unusual accent pieces. Judy Salvino showed off a chestnut pipe cabinet with tiger maple drawers and ornamental hardware for monogramming and a mahogany sewing stand with a satin basket. The top of the stand features a lid that opens in the middle and displays red leather attachments to hold sewing tools.

A few doors down from The Front Porch Antiques, visitors again step back in time at The Barber Shop, owned and refurbished by Frank Giannone. Men can recline in one of two 1927 porcelain and nickel-plated Paidar chairs with black leather seat and armrests and enjoy an old-fashioned straight-razor shave with hot towels, a haircut or facial. The back bar, created from a bottom piece of furniture salvaged from an apothecary, holds two basins and storage space. A phone with crank from 1900 adorns the wall and below sits a 1908 National cash register. Vinyl flooring resembling marble completes the look.

The town was founded by Finnish immigrants the Mullica family. They began to purchase land in 1704. The village has been a coach station and a site of significant agricultural and industrial prosperity until its current notoriety.

Arthur Priemon and his wife, Carole Barnett, make and sell unique pottery at Treen Studio. They've been there 15 years.

Everything old is new again in the hands of potters Arthur Priemon and his wife, Carole Barnett, of Treen Studio. For the past 15 years, their best-selling piece has been a $25 French butterwell that keeps butter fresh and soft without refrigeration. Also ask Priemon to show you his “Egyptian” saltshaker and lidless teapot.

Shopping demands energy. Sandwiches, diner fare, pizza and a coffee bar can be found throughout the town. For a special afternoon pick-me-up, head for Mirenda’s Bakery at 19B S. Main St. for a selection of homemade brownies and other goodies.

Finish the day by strolling past those Victorian homes restored to their former grandeur with their contrasting colors of gingerbread. Allow yourself to be transported in time. It’s the perfect way to unwind before returning to the present time.

MULLICA HILL, N.J. “ANTIQUES COUNTRY”

DIRECTIONS: From the Delaware Memorial Bridge, take I-295 north to Exit 11 (U.S. 322). Follow 322 eastbound until you come to the “T” in the road; Harrison House Diner will be on the left. Turn right onto Main Street, Mullica Hill. Takes about 30 minutes from the bridge.

EATING: Mirenda’s Bakery, 19B S. Main St., offers homemade brownies, cookies, tarts and muffins. (856) 478-6800

Hilltop Restaurant, 47 S Main St., offers “country cuisine,” including chicken pot pie. (856) 478-2112

Harrison House Diner, U.S. 45 and 322, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. (856) 478-6077

SHOPPING: Among the 55 antique stores are Old Mill Antique Mall, 1 S. Main St. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. (856) 478-9810; and Front Porch Antiques, 21 S. Main St. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun. (856) 478-6556

Treen Studio Pottery Shop, 43 S. Main St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sun. (856) 223-2626

INFORMATION: www.mullicahill.com offers a town map that shows parking, shops and their hours of operation, and eateries.

ROAD TRIP PIT STOP:

Fuel up at Commodore Coffee & Bagels at 2263 U.S. 322, (one mile east of Exit 11 off I-295 and 10 minutes from Mullica Hill) for a day of shopping. Commodore offers fresh-baked bagels, gourmet muffins, coffee, teas, espresso and cappuccino and regular and breakfast sandwiches. The latter are served all day. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat.-Sun. If you come between 7 and 9:30 a.m. weekdays, the line will be out the door.

And remember: New Jersey is the Garden State. In the late spring and summer, produce stands pop up along U.S. 322 with fresh vegetables and fruit.

Original article posted by DelawareOnline.com on 02/27/2005.