Step into Water Street Antiques & Interiors’ warehouse in Jackson, and it’s overwhelming: 60,000 square feet of rows and rows of furniture — about 2,200 pieces, according to Kevin O’Neill, vice president of sales and marketing, with about 75 percent of the pieces listed online.
For those who prefer a more quaint atmosphere, head just 3 miles to downtown Sutter Creek, where the company has a 5,000-square-foot showroom. “It’s more set up for the tourist coming through Sutter Creek,” Kevin says. “It also acts as a funnel for us to get people to our warehouse location.”
But Water Street Antiques & Interiors, founded in 1972 by Kevin’s parents, Terry and Christine O’Neill, isn’t just an antique store. Kevin says the company sells a combination of antique, newly built and “some-of-a-kind” furniture, with the latter being a larger portion of the business. “These pieces are made using antique elements, such as old doors and windows, with a new case made around these elements,” Kevin says. “This gives items an Old World feel while still functioning (as) new.”
The business is best known, Kevin says, for the custom tables it makes and ships across the country. “We handmake our tables in Jackson. The guy who makes the tables, Salvador Aguilera, has worked for us 25 years. … You can show him a picture of a table from a magazine, give him some wood and tools, and he will make it exactly as it is in the photo.” Kevin says the tables are mainly made in pine and alder, though any type of wood can be sourced, and no nails or screws are used. The company also builds vanities, kitchen islands, and coffee and sofa tables, and imports tables, chairs and bedroom sets.
Water Street Antiques & Interiors’ warehouse in Jackson is 60,000
square feet and has about 2,200 pieces of furniture.
In the spring of 1972, Terry and Christine were heading from Southern California to Canada to buy 240 acres of land and stopped along the way to visit relatives in Pioneer in Amador County. When word came in April that there was too much snow in Canada, and they would need to wait until late May to go, the O’Neills decided to pass on the purchase and settle in Amador County, where they opened an antique store in a 20-foot shipping container on Water Street in downtown Jackson.
The couple still owns the family business and remains actively involved: Terry’s passion is woodworking, and he oversees the construction of the custom tables; Christine does the bookkeeping and runs the showroom in Sutter Creek; and son-in-law Cruz Luevano works in the workshop. Daughter Kelly Luevano used to work in the warehouse but is now a teacher at Sutter Creek Elementary and is no longer involved in the business. In all, the company has 14 employees, including four woodworkers who have been with the O’Neills for more than 25 years.
“Our customers are not necessarily from around the Jackson area. It would be hard to sustain a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on a population of 39,000 (in Amador County). … We are lucky … that customers from (across the region) can all reach us in 1-2 hours.”
Kevin O’Neill, vice president of sales and marketing Water Street Antiques & Interiors
Kevin says the company’s location has been perfect. “Our customers are not necessarily from around the Jackson area,” he says. “It would be hard to sustain a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on a population of 39,000 (in Amador County). … We are lucky … that customers from (across the region) can all reach us in 1-2 hours. … (But) you need something to entice the customers to take a day out of their lives and drive up to us. We are lucky because Amador County is an amazing place to visit.” One big reason to visit, he says, is the abundance of wineries in the county and the many other unique shops in Sutter Creek and Jackson.
Water Street Antiques & Interiors has done well during the coronavirus pandemic because, Kevin says, people are staying at home more and want to add furniture and other decorations to their homes. But the O’Neills have been unable to travel as they have in the past, to countries such as India and Vietnam, to purchase furniture. “We buy everything in person so that we know exactly what type of product we are getting,” Kevin says, “because photos can be so hard with furniture. We’ll see what the next couple of months holds as far as getting more items.”
–
Tell us what you want to see in Comstock’s: Take our reader feedback survey and be entered to win a $100 gift card.
Recommended For You
![Marsha Taylor's Sparrow 5 shop on Vernon Street in downtown Roseville carries work from more than 70 local artists. (Photo by Tom Couzens)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0220_dept_mainstreet_tomcouzens_lead.jpg?1580326787)
Main Street: Soaring in Roseville
Sparrow 5 on Vernon Street in downtown offers art, gifts and classes
Sparrow 5 owner Marsha Taylor, who has a background in interior design and art, has operated her 2,100-square-foot shop in Roseville for seven years. Besides selling furniture and home accessories, Sparrow 5 carries the work of more than 70 local artists.
![Craig and DeeDee Lyman are CEO and vice-president of Douglas Feed & Pet Supply in Granite Bay. (Photo by Tom Couzens)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0920_dept_mainstreet_tomcouzens_lead.jpg?1600976692)
Main Street: No Horsing Around
A growing equine community has helped boost business for a Granite Bay feed and pet-supply store
DeeDee and Craig Lyman own a feed store in a community of equestrians and animal lovers.
![Crawford’s Books, opened by Jim and Joyce Crawford in 1983, was purchased by Sue and Greg Richards in January 2018. (Photo by Tom Couzens)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0620_dept_mainstreet_tomcouzens.jpg?1591210923)
Main Street: A New Chapter
Family-owned bookstore adjusts to limitations of state’s coronavirus order
Crawford’s Books owner Sue Richards now offers curbside pickup at her store on Freeport Boulevard in the Hollywood Park neighborhood of Sacramento.
![Harley and Zahna Smith, who opened Wandering Gypsy Artistry last year, are putting down roots in Isleton, which they say is an ideal spot for their family. Harley and Zahna Smith, who opened Wandering Gypsy Artistry last year, are putting down roots in Isleton, which they say is an ideal spot for their family.](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/1019_dept_mainstreet_tomcouzens.jpg?1577874530)
Main Street: No Longer Wandering
Zahna and Harley Smith have settled in Isleton, where they operate an art gallery and tattoo studio
Zahna and Harley Smith showcase paintings, homemade jewelry and
other artwork at the Wandering Gypsy Artistry art gallery and
tattoo studio in Isleton.