Glory Bee: Shop Owners Want to Bring Antiques Back to Frankfort

Over the years, Frankfort has earned a reputation as being a hotbed for antiques. And although that reputation has stuck with the village, the actual presence of antique shops has diminished. 

But Carol Wilger and Cindy Vassell want to bring the antiques back to Frankfort, and they've started that mission with , which opened this month

"People come to Frankfort and ask 'Where are the antiques?' " Wilger said. "The town is known for its antiques, and we felt that was an opportunity for our business and would bring people to Frankfort."

Vassell and Wilger aren't novices when it comes to starting up shops in downtown Frankfort. Wigler owns and runs the with her husband, and Vassell is the proprietor of the . The two also have their share of experience when it comes to antiques as well. Wilger has been an antique lover for years with a background in purchasing, and Vassell has sold antiques for close to 30 years, previously owning a Frankfort shop that specialized in vintage items.

" I'm a sucker for an antique auction," Vassell said. "I can't explain it. It's just a a part of me."

The idea of Glory Bee originated about three years ago, springing from a friendship that was sparked while Vassell and Wilger worked together with the Frankfort Historic Business Association. It wasn't until this summer, however, that the two were able to turn their idea into a reality when the Kansas Street storefront was available for rent.

Since then, the process of getting Glory Bee off the ground has been an exercise in juggling their other businesses along with their new venture. Vassell and Wilger have been working 12- to 15-hour days, relying on family and co-workers to help out with their already-existing shops.

"It's a labor of love ... with rewards," Wilger said. "We both put those hours in in our original business. ... There are no eight-hour days. You have to love what you're doing."

"I've always said why work eight hours for someone else when you could work 12 hours a day for yourself," Vassell said. "When you own your own business it's like having a child. As the business grows, you have to put more time into it."

Of course, Vassell and Wilger are looking for success with Glory Bee, but they hope whatever good fortune comes to their shop also spreads to downtown Frankfort.

"We're hoping we can revitalize this end of Kansas," Vassell said.  The west side of Kansas has been too quiet for us.

"We're trying to get more people down Kansas Street," she added. "We want them more mobile instead of staying just in the ."

ARE YOU A FAN OF GLORY BEE? Then write a review for the shop or other Frankfort businesses in our Patch Places directory.