Antique stores may seem like a free museum college students, but in Russellville, antique stores are a great find for college students on a budget.

There are many antique shops located in and around Russellville. Some antique shops are off the beaten path, while others are obvious. Still others are hidden under the guise of another business.

Four of Russellville’s antique shops were visited for this article including Remember When, Emporium Jewelers, Annie’s Antiques, and Crown Antiques.

Remember When is a fascinating store stuffed to the ceiling with antiques, collectibles, house wares, furniture and odds-and-ends.  The owner of the business, Linda Sherrill of Russellville, said she periodically sells items to students, such as retro clothes and furniture. Remember When has reasonable prices and many quirky items including a large, ceramic owl table lamp, complete with plastic beady eyes for only $15 and a poinsettia pattern polyester pant suit in red and white with a matching cropped jacket.

Another interesting antique shop is Emporium Jewelers, which is the oldest continually running jewelry (and now antique) store in Arkansas.

“When you say antique store, this is antique store,” said owner Paul Slaton, who was referring to Emporium Jewelers being in business since 1894 and at the same location since 1898.

Slaton has owned the store since 1978 when  he purchased it from the original owners. Slaton said quite a few college students come  in for the old books, as well as the jewelry. Emporium Jewelers is a great place to find unique jewelry for someone special at a fair price. Slaton offers a discount on jewelry for Arkansas Tech sudents.

Another place to find jewelry and antiques is at Crown Antiques located on South Arkansas Avenue. Aldona Standridge of Russellville, is the owner.

Standridge said she has been selling antiques since 1999, but was already in the jewelry business long before that.

The only things she has sold to college students, she said, are jewelry items.

Standridge said her 14,000 square-foot store is “open to absolutely anybody.”

Even though customer service was poor, the store had a wide range of expensive, highquality antiques, antique books and 18 cases of jewelry.

Annie’s Antiques is near Dardanelle and has been in business a little over a year. It is owned by Pam and Don Reid and was named after their granddaughter.

“Not very much. We have some though. Mostly they come in for the used furniture,” said Reid, when asked how much business is from college students.

Despite a lack of business from Tech students, Annie’s Antiques usually offers 10 percent discounts and has occasional sales. The business also offers lay-away. Annie’s Antiques is clean, well-organized and asthetically pleasing.

Interesting items include quilts, used DVDs, furniture and a whole section with Christian themed merchandise including shirts and armbands. The four antique stores visited seemed to have much to offer a college student on a budget. Each of the stores offered dozens, if not more, of unique finds for under $20, and in a way, each store did manage to offer that free glimpse into the past for college students who dare to venture there while in search of a bargain