By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFAX - An antique market recently opened in the former Swallen's building in this eastern Hamilton County village of nearly 2,000 residents.

Deborah Blind of College Hill looks through antique linens at Master Pieces Antiques. (Meggan Booker photo)

Master Pieces Antiques at 3700 Red Bank Road has leased 26 spaces to dealers and business is steady, said Doug Master of Mount Washington.

He owns the business with his wife, Mary Pat.

"We always loved Swallen's but had no idea how much warmth so many people had for this store," Doug Master said. "People worked here and people shopped here. It's a nostalgic chunk of Cincinnati, so it's been really fun in the short time we have been here."

The couple operate a recycling business in Oakley but enjoy antiques and long have wanted to get into the business. They signed a five-year lease and have the option to expand that.

So far, 7,500 square feet on the first level are occupied; an additional 7,500 feet remain for expansion on that floor, he said. The finished basement also holds 100,000 square feet that can be used in the future, as does a second story.

Merchandise includes antiques and collectables such as jewelry, furniture, ceramics, glassware, tools, old magazines and other items.

"In the first month, we had $6,200 in sales," Master said. "That is not bad for being open a month."

Customers browsing the store said they were relieved to see life again in the old Swallen's building, which has held a variety of other businesses since the large appliance and furniture store closed nearly 10 years ago.

"It's nice to have a little mall on this side of town, closer to the eastern suburbs," said Lisa Sundberg of Milford.

The antique store is the latest improvement to Red Bank Road, off Interstate 71.

The artery is undergoing a widening in Fairfax, where crews are expanding it from two to four lanes. In addition to improving traffic flow, the work also will reduce flooding, Mayor Ted Shannon said. Work should end in December.

A developer, Red Bank Road LLC, has pledged to build a lifestyle center, mixing retail stores and offices on the 34-acre site. "We certainly would like to make it a lot more attractive than it is now," the mayor said.

---

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com