Showcase Antiques Gallery on Main Street in Wiscasset recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Owners Tim Buckowski and Ted Talbert, who formerly owned and ran a bed and breakfast on Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor, Bayberry House, are feeling good about the anniversary.

Five years ago they leased the space in Wiscasset to open an antiques gallery while continuing to operate Bayberry House, which they later sold.

Buckowski and Talbert, originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, had been coming to the Midcoast area on vacation for several years, and eventually decided to make it their home.

They had operated an antiques gallery in Gettysburg for a number of years before opening their gallery in Wiscasset.

Buckowski said that the last five years have proven them right in their move. “Although we are a small town, Wiscasset has been famous for decades for its wide range of antique shopping experiences and Tim and I are delighted to be part of the eclectic milieu that draws people to stop as they make their way on Route One.” Talbert said.

With 75 sparkly clean glass showcases featuring antiques, art and collectibles from more than 50 dealers from all over the U.S., and a number of pieces of accent furniture and other items too large for the showcases, there is an ever-changing display of delightful, interesting things to see.

In an article the owners recently submitted to The Maine Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, Talbert said, “In addition to the significant dealer trade, we get everyone from casual browsers to focused collectors in search of that one perfect item.”

The article goes on to say that longtime visitor to the gallery, Doug Sturdivant from Raleigh, North Carolina, makes stopping there a regular part of his itinerary whenever he comes to Maine.  “We usually make it to Maine at least twice a year and stopping in Wiscasset is a must,” he said. “Maine is overflowing with opportunities to shop for old things but Tim and Ted have done such a good job of curating their group of dealers that we are always able to find interesting, unique items to choose from.”

Showcase Antiques is known for its variety, thanks to the dealers from all over the country: Arizona, Louisiana, Florida, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Ohio, California, New Jersey, Michigan and New York.

“Dealers are invited to become affiliates because of their expertise in their field,” Talbert said. “Among the fields covered are jewelry, china, glassware, sterling, primitives, nauticalia, automobilia, militaria, toys, artwork, Asiana, pottery, miniatures, and books. We like to say, ‘If it’s small enough to fit in a showcase, there’s at least one of them here.’”

“We love being here,” Buckowski said. “Wiscasset is a great little town.”

The gallery is located at 85B Main Street in Wiscasset, ME 04578 and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 207-882-4373, visit the website at http://www.showcaseantiquesgallery.com or email info@showcaseantiquesgallery.com.