Silvernicks offers great picks!

By Cindy Ladage

Basically, no matter what you are looking for, whether new or used, you can find it at Silvernicks.  They offer vintage treasures, architectural salvage items, Knick knacks, furniture, Route 66 collectibles and gift items. The motto they share on Facebook is, “Silvernicks has anything and everything, old and new.”

With two stories, furniture and barn fresh items upstairs, and a full downstairs, there is lots of room to shop! Located at 167 N. Springfield St, on the Virden Square, Tammy and Sterling Nichols, owners of Silvernicks, said they have been in business for 18 years.  “We have been at various locations around Virden’s Square, just not on the south side,” Tammy Nichols joked.

Silvernicks got started when the couple began shopping at garage sales. They were inspired by a little shop in Tolono, Illinois.  “A woman had a little shop,” Tammy said, “I was so entranced by it, I thought, I could do this.”

So, she did!  Before opening a shop in Virden, the pair had The Little Shop of Bargains in Girard, which Tammy said was more of a novelty and craft store.  The Nichols moved their business to Virden in 2006, with Tammy working part time selling EBAY items for people.  With the store in the front, the couple lived in the back.

The name Silvernicks came from Sterling’s name as in Silver, and their last name Nichols. Put it together and they arrived at Silvernicks!

Besides working at Silvernicks, Sterling is busy seasonally serving as a Sexton at the Virden cemetery. “He works there fulltime, but in the off season, it allows him to haul, do pickups, and things like that.”

Tammy said they decided to expand their EBAY shop into a store. “While there, we thought we might as well have things to sell,” Tammy said. As they grew, they expanded they moved to various buildings before moving to their current home.  At Silvernicks, they find most of their items by cleaning out estates.  Besides finding hidden gems, this is also an important service for the local community. Family members usually make a bit of money and find homes for their loved one’s items.  Of course, terms vary per estate depending on each individual circumstance.  Tammy said they don’t take stuffed furniture, mattresses, televisions, and won’t clean out trash. They are there to find new homes for the estate members’ treasures.

In the beginning they also picked up from yard sales at the end of the day, and in return offered 10% off items in the store.

Elder care companies sometimes contact Tammy and Sterling when a senior moves from their home to assisted living. Cleaning out their home and finding a place for their belongings helps give peace of mind to family members.

To know who to contact for information on certain items, or how to alert a certain collector about items they have available Tammy shared, “We have a lot of resources. There are people that know about specific items.”

At each estate sale, the Nichols find a variety of items every time.  What they find depends on the person, and what their interests were. Tammy said the best finds are in homes that have been in the same family for generations.

Some customers find items at Silvernicks to resell, others buy to add to their collections or find the perfect gift item.  As a collector, Tammy knows what to look for.  She collects Elvis, Barbies, and Fisher Price Little people and added, “I like miniature nativity scenes.”

Sterling, Tammy said, “Really is a jack of all trades, he does stained glass, can build things and more.”

Tammy also builds cool dioramas, showing that both the Nichols demonstrate artistic talent.

While most of the items offered at Silvernicks belong to Tammy and Sterling, Tammy said one gentleman supplies them with architectural salvage items. This is helpful because they have torn down barns and buildings in the past, but these days she said, “There is no time."

With just the two of them working the store, finding inventory, and more, they are very busy indeed.  Occasionally they even offer Pop Up shops or have online auctions.  With over 6,000 Facebook followers it is easy to get the word out about these extra events they offer. The Pop-Up shops, and the auctions, offer customers a chance to see huge inventory items with a large audience. Daryl Adcock, an auctioneer from Auburn, Illinois usually handles the online auctions for Silvernicks.

At Silvernicks they are also active in the local 4th Sunday Market. This was the first year for this event that takes place at the Knights of Columbus and goes from June to October.  At the market, customers find antiques, collectibles, Disney, artisan crafts and more. Tammy hopes the market will resume next year. October 27th will be the last market for 2024.

Tammy is a Virden girl, and Sterling a Girard guy.  The two both grew up locally and went to Virden and Girard schools. The couple have three children, two girls and a boy, Kelsie, Wendy, and Grayson. As members of the Virden Area Chamber of Commerce (VACC) the Nichols are active in the local community. Tammy and Sterling were awarded "Business Person of the Year" by the VACC in 2020. The Nichols have also assisted with Helping Homeless in Springfield, and provided for residents when they had home fires, tornadoes, and they assisted hurricane victims.

Silvernicks is open Wednesday from 1-7, and Thursday – Saturday from 10-4. The Nichols are busy doing pickups and sorting on their off days.  You can find information about Silvernicks on Facebook, or call 217-891-6514, or 217-899-5810.  They are working on updating their website.  There is something for everyone at Silvernicks, just stop in and check them out!