You may remember Mike Deming as the “Antique Guy” from Rochester's R News television network several years ago. Deming has since expanded his antique business and set up shop in Brighton with his wife Julia, and daughter Uma. The new store, Mike Deming Antiques, features old-fashioned antiques.
The Brighton-Pittsford Post recently sat down with Deming to speak about bringing his 30 years of experience to a Brighton storefront.
How would you describe this store?
It’s an old-fashioned antique shop and I’m kind of an old throwback antique dealer. We did quite a bit of remodeling in here in that we put up a lot of new lighting in the store. We tore out the old flower cooler and some walls.
What made you open a store in Brighton?
I love this space and location. It’s nice that it used to be Stanley Lutomski’s who was a great florist and antique dealer/collector. I just loved that connection. I found what I was looking for and in a great neighborhood.
I grew up in New Jersey and I came to RIT way back, 1970. I wound up staying here and I’ve always lived in the Southeast part of the city. I’m a Brighton resident now. I just like this part of town. It has a nice, fairly sophisticated clientele, I think.
What do you buy and sell?
I buy out of estates and from private individuals largely. I also buy single items, old collections and household contents. I’m what they used to call a General Line Dealer in that I’m liable to buy anything. This is sort of the age of specialization and I’m kind of a throwback to the old days. There are items bought and sold from retro-set furniture to Victorian paintings.
How did you get started as an antique dealer?
I liked to buy and sell. You begin to buy things and see if you can sell for more. I had a partner early on that was actually in the antique business. I also rented space in Webster, a large group shop under Hegedorn’s Market, but that’s been gone since 2004. Prior to this I was really just working out of a warehouse on University Avenue and didn’t have very much exposure.
What do you enjoy about this business?
I’ve been doing this full time for about 30 years. This is what I do for a living. I make my living by buying and selling. I also do appraisals.
You may remember Mike Deming as the “Antique Guy” from Rochester's R News television network several years ago. Deming has since expanded his antique business and set up shop in Brighton with his wife Julia, and daughter Uma. The new store, Mike Deming Antiques, features old-fashioned antiques.
The Brighton-Pittsford Post recently sat down with Deming to speak about bringing his 30 years of experience to a Brighton storefront.
How would you describe this store?
It’s an old-fashioned antique shop and I’m kind of an old throwback antique dealer. We did quite a bit of remodeling in here in that we put up a lot of new lighting in the store. We tore out the old flower cooler and some walls.
What made you open a store in Brighton?
I love this space and location. It’s nice that it used to be Stanley Lutomski’s who was a great florist and antique dealer/collector. I just loved that connection. I found what I was looking for and in a great neighborhood.
I grew up in New Jersey and I came to RIT way back, 1970. I wound up staying here and I’ve always lived in the Southeast part of the city. I’m a Brighton resident now. I just like this part of town. It has a nice, fairly sophisticated clientele, I think.
What do you buy and sell?
I buy out of estates and from private individuals largely. I also buy single items, old collections and household contents. I’m what they used to call a General Line Dealer in that I’m liable to buy anything. This is sort of the age of specialization and I’m kind of a throwback to the old days. There are items bought and sold from retro-set furniture to Victorian paintings.
How did you get started as an antique dealer?
I liked to buy and sell. You begin to buy things and see if you can sell for more. I had a partner early on that was actually in the antique business. I also rented space in Webster, a large group shop under Hegedorn’s Market, but that’s been gone since 2004. Prior to this I was really just working out of a warehouse on University Avenue and didn’t have very much exposure.
What do you enjoy about this business?
I’ve been doing this full time for about 30 years. This is what I do for a living. I make my living by buying and selling. I also do appraisals.
