At Nostalgia Vintage & Things, LLC, customers can peruse a variety of items such as antiques (items that are 100 years or older) and vintage pieces (which are 25 years or older). Photos: Chris Emeott
An area store curates a collection of antique and vintage items.
A collected look—that’s how Jim Midtlien describes his home. From authentic Murano glass pieces hailing from Italy to 1920s and 1930s French woodwork, the Midtlien home is a curated space of treasured items. It’s pieces like this that one might find at Nostalgia Vintage & Things, LLC, an antique and vintage store owned by the Midtliens.
Jim and his wife, Liz Midtlien, have lived in Woodbury since they married in 1992. (Liz grew up in Woodbury and attended Royal Oaks Elementary.) Here, the couple have raised their son, Jack, a 2016 Woodbury High School alum, grown businesses and celebrated life—and now, Nostalgia is their next adventure. The store, located at 9242 Hudson Blvd. N. Suite 300, works with more than 25 antique and vintage dealers to stock all types of items. “We have the gamut,” Jim says. “You can find anything from a Staffordshire mantel dog from England to a vintage football jersey to silver coins to vintage purses. We have it all.”
Acquiring the store came out of the blue for the Midtliens. Although they have always been occasional antiquers (“It wasn’t a huge passion, but we enjoyed doing it … maybe a weekend or two a month,” Jim says.), owning and operating such an antique shop was never in the sightlines. The store originally opened over 20 years ago in Lakeland before it moved to Hudson, Wisconsin. Then, in summer 2023, as Jim was perusing Facebook Marketplace, he stumbled upon a listing—Nostalgia was up for sale. “I turned to my wife and said, ‘What do you think about me buying an antique store?’ She said, ‘Shouldn’t you start with a booth?’” Jim recalls. “I said, ‘That’s not how we operate.’”
Jim inquired early that summer. It was pending sale. A few months later in October, he heard back—the sale fell through, and Jim had ownership as of that December. Knowing its lease in Hudson wasn’t going to be renewed, Jim moved the business to its current location last June. (Coincidentally, it was also in the middle of an agreement before it had a falling through, allowing Jim to secure the new space.) It has been a welcome surprise to Woodbury, a city that has longed to have a shop like this one, Jim says. “We always hear, ‘We’re so glad you’re here. We’ve never had this in Woodbury, and we’ve been needing it for a long time.’ And I couldn’t agree more,” he says.
According to Jim, avid antique shoppers and newcomers alike enjoy the offerings, which includes everything from furniture and home décor to clothing and collectibles. If it’s marked as antique, it’s at least 100 years old; if it’s vintage, it’s at least 25 years old. But there are a few items that don’t meet those thresholds—those items are sought after collectibles deemed worthy enough to adorn the shelves.
An authentic piece of Murano glass from Jim Midtlien’s personal collection. It is handcrafted on Murano Island, Italy, using centuries old techniques.
“We have everything for anybody,” Jim says, noting that he regularly sees younger and younger people walking through the shop. “We have a big portion of our clients who are in their late teens, early 20s and 30s.” Jim finds that these shoppers are typically looking for high-quality items that last and often find pieces that remind them of childhood. “People are starting to understand and appreciate the value of those things,” he says.
Whether visitors hope to find a new piece of décor, hunt for a collectible item or simply stroll the isles, Nostalgia is waiting in Woodbury at last. “We’re so happy to be here,” he says. “Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane.”
Nostalgia Vintage & Things, LLC
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