Greentown Antique Mall Owner Finds a Second Calling in Collectibles
Greentown Antique Mall owner Dave Turner spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy, traveling the world and serving a year in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. He enlisted in 1961 and retired in 1981. While stationed in Bermuda, a chance discovery set him on the path to his life’s second career.
“On the way back from a transmitter site, I almost tripped over an old bottle,” Turner says. “A fellow sailor told me it was worth $20. I thought maybe a guy could make a little money in this business of selling old pieces.”
That bottle led to years of searching for glass and collectibles. A trip home to Greentown brought him into the local glass museum, where he picked up a book on Greentown glass. Soon after, he found a piece for $10 at a local flea market and learned it was worth $60. That small victory sparked a deeper passion for antiques.
After decades of shows on the road, Turner returned home in 1991. He married his wife in 1996, and together they opened the Greentown Antique Mall in 1999. He has been in the business ever since, with a brief pause after a heart attack before reopening the shop in 2015.
The mall now spans 3,500 square feet and carries a wide range of antiques. Collectors can find Greentown glass, farm toys, pocket knives, advertising tins, dolls, marbles, lamps, coins, and military memorabilia. Turner shares the space with Ralph and Kitty Troyer, who help manage the shop.
Greentown has been home for Turner since childhood, and the town has embraced the mall as a community hub.
“I’m homegrown. People know me, and they know I’ll treat them right,” he says.
He also offers appraisal services and enjoys connecting with visitors from across the country.
As the holidays approach, the shop hosts a Christmas open house every December, complete with discounts, cider, cookies, and a festive atmosphere. Turner says it draws a loyal crowd year after year.
The antique mall is about people as much as objects. Turner prides himself on offering quality items and genuine conversation.
“Most people who come in here, we kid around and joke with them,” he says. “They come back because it feels like they’ve known you forever.”
When Turner isn’t at his store, you can find him — and have a fun conversation with him — at one of Greentown’s great restaurants.
“It’s probably always going to be a pizza place,” he says. “We have great places to eat here, and that’s my favorite food.”
For Turner, the Navy instilled a work ethic that still drives him.
“I can’t just sit and do nothing,” he says. “This business and community keep me going. It’s a love.”
Greentown Antique Mall has more than 3,600 square feet of antiques and collectibles and is open year-round except for major holidays. The shop is located at 107 W. Main St. and can be reached at 765-627-8310.
