Burlington Antiques Celebrates 25 Years in the Haymarket

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There’s a lot of history in this place. Its resolute walls have had the privilege of playing guardian to thousands of items, each with a unique story. They’ve watched hobbies and childhoods find new homes, and they’ve found that here, memories aren’t stagnant, they’re just in transition.

Antiquing has been a passion for Burlington Antiques owners Jeff and Diane Cunningham ever since they can remember.

“I always liked shopping in antique shops,” Diane says. “I used to go antiquing with my mom and sister. I still have a small rug that I bought 25 years ago. It was my first antique purchase, and it still sits under my piano bench.”

Burlington Antiques is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a sale from June 25th through July 25th. Diane says they’ll be having sales throughout the store, anywhere from 15-25% off most booths and that they’ll be giving away five $25 gift certificates as well.

The store got its start in 1986 under the name Burlington Arcade Antique Mall and was owned by former Downtown Lincoln Association president Lou Shields, her husband Gale, along with Gale’s brother Jess and his wife Norma.

The Cunninghams were hired to manage the antique mall in 1996 and then purchased it in 2001. The new owners moved the mall from its former location (where Empyrean Brewing Co. and Lazlo’s is today) across the street to Lincoln Station and changed its name to Burlington Antiques.

Burlington Antiques’ traditional brick exterior masks the vibrant cache of items that await inside. Visitors are greeted by a myriad of glassware, china, pottery, jewelry, furniture, books and textiles, and if they’re lucky, the Cunninghams’ dog, Max.

“We have a definite boutique-type feeling in our store. We have a lot of sparkly merchandise that really catches your eye when you first walk in. We are not what people think of as a typical antique store; you don’t have to dig through dusty, musty stuff here.”

Customers walk through each room and intently look at each item as if it were an artifact in a museum. Perhaps some of them could be.

A painting of two young girls in their night gowns having a tea party hangs in one room, while a painting in an adjacent room depicts a windmill looming over a patch of golden rods. Looking at items like these, one could easily lose themselves in the intrigue each winding room provides. That’s what Jeff and Diane love about their store.

“It’s always a fun learning experience. It’s like a history lesson every day,” Diane says.

Located on 7th and Q Streets, the Cunninghams are more than happy to be situated downtown.

“The small-neighborhood feeling is great in the Haymarket,” Diane says. “Yet, there is so much going on downtown all the time that it never gets boring. It’s a great place for tourist traffic also, which helps our business.” 

Of course, the Cunninghams are no strangers to the Haymarket. Jeff is the Farmers’ Market business manager, and Diane coordinated the Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy event, which also takes place in the Haymarket. The husband-and-wife team even owned another gift/antique shop in the Haymarket 17 years ago called Gatherings.

“We have some real involvement in the district, of which we are very proud.”

But nothing makes the couple prouder than to be able to say that Burlington Antiques is celebrating their silver anniversary in downtown Lincoln.

“We can take credit for about 15 years of that success, along with many of our dealers and employees that have stuck it out through good and bad times. The original owners started a great business, so we have to thank them.”

As for another 25 years?

“Well, it’s possible!” Diane says. “A few of our dealers are in their 70’s and 80’s. So really, we are just getting started, right?”

Not many businesses can remain resilient for a quarter century, but Burlington Antiques has. Stop by Jeff and Diane’s store this Saturday to help commemorate their success and see why Burlington Antiques is becoming a relic all its own.
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Burlington Antiques is open on Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm.

For more information on Burlington Antiques, visit their website and Facebook page.