FERNDALE, Wash. — The business was started in 1979 in California by his parents according to Strip Shop owner Kelly Sullivan. They opened first in Ferndale in the Carnation Oxford Building on Main Street in 1986. Back then, Sullivan said, they ran the Ferndale Antique Mall in the same building as well.
He bought property at 6117 Portal Way in 1997 and moved the businesses into a shop building he built there. For the next 22 years, Sullivan continued keeping busy providing furniture stripping, refinishing and repairs to the community.
But, after going to work 7 days a week for the past 33 years, Kelly decided it was time to close the business and put the property up for sale.
“Most of my customers are 60 years and older now. [Business from] the young moms that want to redo stuff for their daughters has kind of disappeared. That changed a lot of it,” Sullivan said. “I have customers asking where they can take their stuff now. I tell them I do not know. I was the only guy [doing] refinishing here.”
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Over the years, Kelly collected quality wood products and furnishings along with other collectibles including lamps and architectural features. Some pieces ended up there after people would bring him furniture to repair and then never come back to pick them up, Sullivan said.
He said he filled a large truck 3 times while hauling most of his remaining inventory to an auction house.
Kelly and his wife, Patti, raised their 4 daughters in Ferndale. “We participated in a lot of stuff around Ferndale,” Sullivan said. “Our floats in Old Settlers Grand Parades have won a lot of 1st places. And I think I put more time into the float than I put into the business this year.”
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