China shop to fade into history. No bull (11 photos)

Children of local shop owners are saying goodbye to the store they grew up in.

Forty-five years ago, Anthony Chornyj, who worked at Algoma Steel at the time, purchased a small family grocery store on Queen Street.

The youngest four of the couple’s seven children literally grew up in the store.

“Those were the days you could have a family business. It wasn’t a big deal to sell cigarettes, you didn’t have to be 18, 19 years old. Those days are kind of gone by now,” said daughter Charlene Barber, who turned 13 the year the family took over the store.

The store transitioned from groceries to selling gifts, and in 1982 Chornyj’s-Hadke started selling collectables full-time.

“A lot of kids grew up having their life represented through the different collectibles, whether it be the collector plate for gymnastics or skating. The same for the Precious Moments figurines,” said Barber.

The retirement sales began about two years ago, shortly before Anthony’s passing in March of 2014.

Barber and her mother, Valerie continued the sales, with the intention of closing the store permanently in September of this year.

But Valerie died this last June, just over a year after her husband.

“It’s the end of an era. We’re ready to move on, but it’s sad to move on,” said Barber.

Four generations of family have worked in the store, if you include Anthony and Valerie’s great-grandchildren.

“If they walk in today, the first thing they look for is the Windex and the paper towel,” said Barber.

The store — which Barber refers to as a treasure trove — will now close late July or very early August.

Barber admits the passing of her mother accelerated the closure date.

“That just kind of put a rush on things,” she said.

Barber and brother Alex Chornyj are the last two children who live in Sault Ste. Marie area, but another sibling, Camille Martin — who lives in San Diego — stayed behind after Valerie’s funeral to help sell the remaining inventory.

“She’s a really big help for me, she’s enthusiastic and right in there,” said Barber.

Even after two years of sales to sell remaining inventory, most shelves and display cases are filled as more and more stock is brought up from the basement and back rooms.

Some wall space is clearing up as the remaining collector plates are sold.

Many people are stopping in to say goodbye.

“A lot people are coming in to say goodbye and say they are sorry to see use go,” said Barber.

She adds, “There was no pressure, my dad and I were not pressure sellers. That showed after Christmas time, we didn’t have lineups of people with returns because people weren’t buying things they didn’t want.”

Those interested in collectibles will likely find something of interest, and few people leave the store empty-handed, says Barber.

“No matter how many times they walk around the store the next time they see something they hadn’t seen the first time around,” said Barber.

Collectibles hail from many countries, including England, Ukraine, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Denmark and Finland, among many others. 

The store also proudly featured work from Canadian and local artists.

Barber notes a lot of the companies who made these collectibles are no longer making many of lines still in stock at the store.

“Even Bradford Exchange isn’t making the collector plates anymore,” she said.

Barber admits it is sometimes hard to watch inventory go out the door.

“You just take it for granted it will always be there and when it sells you think ‘Oh, I really wanted that one,’” she said.

A pipe is prominently displayed at the cash area, a tribute to her father who was known for often smoking one.

“It’s been a good life, for my parents, myself and my family,” said Barber.

(PHOTO L-R: Siblings Alex Chornyj, Charlene Barber and Camille Martin seen July 6, 2014 at Chornyj's-Hadke on Queen Street. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)