Sterling Schoolhouse Antiques is closing, marking an end to a 27-year fixture in one of the oldest hamlets of Sterling.
Proprietor Betty Geoffroy, who is retiring, said she decided against selling the shop, because she feels like the small business and she are one of the same.
Ruth Page of Sugarland Run, a long-time customer and friend, would attest to that. "It's been the village of Sterling's institution for a long time. She's an institution."
Paula Larkin of Ashburn, another patron, said more people refer to Sterling Schoolhouse Antiques as "Betty's." "We just say we're going to Betty's," Larkin said while buying a quilt on a recent Sunday afternoon.
"The thing is, when I walk into this place, it's like walking into a friend's house," said Larkin's father, Bill Spath of Ashburn.
The antique shop, located in a former two-room schoolhouse at 1000 Ruritan Circle in Old Sterling, will close Jan. 28. It specializes in venerable furniture and quilts, and features dishware, dry sinks, jelly cupboards, lamps, pictures, knickknacks, trunks and more. Geoffroy leases the building, which was built in 1879 and still has the original outhouse — albeit overgrown with weeds and inactive — in the backyard. She uses two kerosene heaters to heat the shop, which has no running water or bathroom.
CUSTOMERS LAMENTED the closing. "It's kind of too bad things have to change, that those things have to go away," Ruth Page said.
Marcia Carpenter of Countryside agreed. "We're very upset, but we understand."
Geoffroy is unhappy about closing the shop. "I hate giving it up," she said. "Twenty-seven years for a small business is a long, long time."
She made the decision, because she cannot afford to remain open after she turns 65. The U.S. Navy medical benefits that provided for her and three children after her first husband died in 1974 diminish once she is eligible for Medicare.
To continue working and cover the gap in coverage, she would have to pay for supplemental medical insurance. While any type of insurance is expensive these days, this type is especially high for self-employed people, she said. She can't afford the extra health benefit on top of her lease payments, fuel and taxes.
The alternative is to go on Medicare, which would restrict her employment to 20 hours a month.
"If I had my choice, I wouldn't stop working until I was ready to retire," she said. "I still lift furniture every single week, work 20-hour days."
Walter Saunders, another long-time customer, said the situation doesn't make sense. "She doesn't want to retire, but the system is making her," he said. "It's still hard to believe the system is doing that to her."
Like many of Sterling Schoolhouse Antiques' collectors, Saunders and his wife, Nancy, started out as customers and became friends with Geoffroy. "It's a very rare thing, operating a business and being a friend," he said.
Nancy Saunders said people will miss both the antique shop and its proprietor. "We love Betty. I tell her, 'You know when men were going to the country store and playing checkers? Well women go to Betty's and we're flapping our gums.'"
CARPENTER SAID she and her friend, Kathie, won't know what to do when the shop closes. "We go every Thursday. We have to have our weekly fix," Carpenter said. "If we don't go, she'll call and ask, "Where have you been?'"
Carpenter said one only needs to look around her house to see that most of it has been furnished with "Betty's antiques."
The shop is closed Monday and Tuesdays so Geoffroy and her husband, Bucky Carter, can travel to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia to buy antiques to restock it. They also go on at least two three-week buying trips each year, covering up to 3,500 miles each time. Those trips also take them to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
"I truthfully believe I was born loving them," Geoffroy said, referring to antiques. "As a young kid, I went to all kinds of farm auctions with my mom. I loved the old stuff."
Carter refinishes and restores the furniture from the trips and makes deliveries. He's also a collector of antique toys and Old Sleepy Eye pottery, which has an impression of Indian Chief Old Sleepy Eye on it.
"It's a rare thing to buy a piece that doesn't need refinishing," Geoffroy said.
While his wife isn't ready to retire, Carter said he is. This will mark his second retirement. The first was 12 years ago after working about 35 years working for Pepsi-Cola.
"He likes to tell people that he works harder than he ever did and he doesn’t even get paid," Geoffroy said, laughing.
Carter said his wife may not be ready to retire, but she is "getting into the mood of it," he said. "We put in a lot of hours. I'm looking forward to relaxing, taking it easy, little trips here and there."
He said he was not referring to antiquing trips, but Geoffroy said her vocation is addictive. "It's not something we're going to stop," she said, chuckling.
He jested, saying the couple would probably fight more during their retirement. Then he conceded they might buy some antiques. "She likes quilts."
GEOFFROY SAID the business has been "very good" for the couple. "Keeps us busy." She said the closing has nothing to do with the downturn in customers felt by most of the businesses in the hamlet as a result of the newly constructed Route 28 interchange. She too lost a lot of business during its construction, which still stirs up her ire.
"For 22 years, we not only paid our real estate taxes, but 20 percent more for Route 28 improvements," she said, her voice rising. "What did we get after 22 years? They nearly ruined my business."
K.C. LeBlanc has been with Geoffroy through the good and bad times. She fills in on Fridays, bartering her time for antiques. "All my girls call her 'Grandma Betty,'" LeBlanc said. "Every one of them were held by her as babies."
She said she counts on Geoffroy to listen to all of her concerns and provide a truthful perspective — even if it's not what LeBlanc wants to hear. Geoffroy would help anyone, LeBlanc added. "Bucky is the same way. He would do anything for you."
LeBlanc said her antique hunting won't subside just because Geoffroy is retiring. With visible delight, she said, "I'm still going to call her, 'Hey Betty, can you find this for me …' She'll be our own personal buyer."
Ken Page said he will miss Geoffroy giving him advice on what to buy for his wife for Christmases, birthdays and anniversaries. "As Betty reminds me periodically, if she weren't there, guys like me would not have a clue what to get for Christmas," he said. "I know things she [his wife] might like, but when you go to Betty's, you know you'll get something she really wants."
If Christmas is getting close and he has not been by the antique shop, Geoffroy will call and ask when he is planning to come out. "She'll say, 'I want you to see what you are giving Ruth,'" he said.
He recalled the first time his wife "dragged me in there," he said. "She knows all of her clients by their first name and she said, 'Hi Ruth.'"
Ken Page said he jested with Geoffroy. "Don't call her Ruth. It's Mrs. Page. You will call her Mrs. Page. You aren't going to become friends."
He said the response he got was "typical Betty." "Mind your own business," she told him.
EVERY YEAR, Geoffroy and she and her family and friends "transform the whole shop into Christmas," They bring in a tree, decorate every room and serve punch, cookies and other fare to the customers.
"When I told them this is the last one, I can't tell you how many women started crying," Geoffroy said. "More than anything, I will miss the wonderful, wonderful people."
She said she wanted to thank all of her customers and friends. "It's been 27 wonderful years."
Walter Saunders and his wife said they would continue to visit Geoffrey and Carter at their Old Sterling home. "I'm going to throw snowballs at their door if she doesn't open up."
"It's a big, big loss," he said. "I'm heartbroken. Betty is like family and I love her."