Brown County Antique Mall
~ story and photos by Paige Langenderfer
Many people spend so much time at work that it begins to feel like home. But for Cheri Sumter, work literally is her home.
When she bought the Brown County Antique Mall 28 years ago, Cheri was looking for a fresh start. She had just finished a 30-year career at the phone company in Indianapolis and was ready for a change. When she heard the mall was for sale, Cheri jumped at the opportunity.
“ I bought the property as a residence and a business,” she said.“ The main floor is an antique mall and the second floor is where I live.”
The property, located 3 miles east of Nashville on Indiana 46 East, had been operating as an antique mall since 1972, but Cheri knew nothing about running an antique mall.
“ It was all new to me,” she said.“ I was in my 40s, I didn’ t collect anything and I had never run a business. But, I was motivated to learn.”
She divided the property into spaces that antique sellers could rent.“ A lot of people think that it is all one big store and that I own
58 Our Brown County March / April 2023