At BQ 4 You, they want to do some good.
And sell some gently used furniture, collectibles and antiques along the way.
“Our aim and our goal is high-end or quality antiques and vintage,” said partner Doug Swope, 46, of the store that opened two months ago on Dekalb Street. “Everything in here is used, to my knowledge, but is excellent quality. We don’t buy things and refurbish them.”
“We’re trying to get quality pieces for reasonable prices,” he said. “We know we’re not in Seattle.”
Swope explained that the store, of which the BQ stands for Better Quality, is affiliated Celebrate Life, which provides support for single parents and women with unexpected or difficult pregnancies.
“Single parents need things for their children,” he said. “Everything that sells out of here supports that ministry.”
Linda Owensby, 51, the vice president of Celebrate Life, said that their Gorst-based organization tries to extend into its clients’ lives “wherever we can with some wisdom and help them get on their feet.”
“With the economic situation we’re in, people need help,” she said. “We’re looking to grow what we do.”
Celebrate Life gives away furniture, diapers, clothing up to size 5T, formula and food.
“Whatever we get,” she said, “we freely give.”
With 2,800 square feet of merchandise, customers at BQ 4 You can browse among offerings by Ethan Allen, Pennsylvania House and Virginia House, and such items as hand-carved bird sculptures and coffee tables from the 1980s.
But, Swope said, if they are to accept anything newer than that, it must be “classic style and very high end.” Anything made with pressboard goes right back out the door, because “I don’t want it in here.”
Even with the strict standards, “there’s plenty to see without it being overwhelming. We wanted plenty of relaxed room to walk through.”
Mark Owensby, 49, the president of Celebrate Life, said one of their board’s considerations lately has been to be a larger presence in South Kitsap and even North Mason.
“We want to do more for more people,” he said. “Hopefully this store will be a conduit for it.”
However, Swope said, they are careful to not “crush anybody with who and what we are. We’re just humbly thankful we get this opportunity.”
BQ 4 You is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
