Unique Emporium to close doors for good in April

PLAINS- Raylene Katana loves antiques and she loves Montana. It would seem strange at first then to learn that she is leaving them both behind for the sunny shores of southern California. Raylene is closing her second hand collectible shop, the Unique Emporium in Plains, and is moving to San Diego to be closer to family.

As Raylene’s little dog Charlie keeps a watchful eye on the store from his perch atop the checkout counter, she is busy with customers. Word has spread that the doors are closing on the Unique Emporium and the community has shown up to find that last hidden treasure before the entire inventory goes up for auction.

Raylene opened her shop five years ago after struggling to find a job.

“After not being able to find a job, I created one”. Surrounded by items of all types and genres, Raylene is clearly in her element.

“I love antiques. It’s fun to find them and it’s what I do really well.” It also runs in the family. Raylene’s aunt, sister, mother and even grandmother have all been in the antique business.

Her passion for antiques is evident when she speaks about some favorite pieces within the shop. A pram-style baby stroller from the early 1900s catches her eye.

“This was the Cadillac of baby strollers in its day. It’s probably my favorite piece.” The pram baby stroller was developed in the late 1800s and was popular into the mid to late 1900s. Traditionally made of wood and wicker, the example in the Unique Emporium is in exceptionally good condition despite its age.

Another piece that Raylene is particularly fond of is a large wooden winnower. The winnower is also from the early 1900s and was used in a farming operation to separate grain from other larger debris.

Despite her attachment to antiquing and Montana, Raylene is responding to a higher calling for the time being.

“I’m sure I will miss Montana but this is a trip to help my daughter. I just wanna be closer to my kids.” Her oldest daughter, recently graduated from medical school, is starting a new job at the naval hospital in San Diego. “I’d like to convince my kids to come back here but it’s hard for young people to make a living here.”

Raylene has lived in Montana for 37 years, moving here in 1975 to “live closer to nature”.

Her move to southern California is only semi-permanent. “I feel like I’ll be coming back here. I can’t get Montana out of my blood.” She also expressed interest in returning to the antique business.

Antiques are objects that represent an era or period of time in history. It is easy when spending more than a few minutes looking around the store to understand the appeal of the antique business. In the life of many of these items, someone had an emotional bond with them. Some of these pieces were likely heirlooms, sacred artifacts handed down from generation to generation. Now they are here at the Unique Emporium before moving on to a new home. As guardian and curator of her own private museum, Raylene seems destined to return to a job she was born to do and to a place that holds a special place in her heart.

The last day to purchase antiques from the Unique Emporium will be April 27, after which the entire inventory will go to auction.