The building at 43–45 Lake Street in downtown Owego, NY carries more than seven decades of history within its Mid-Century Modern walls. It has witnessed grand openings, economic tides, a catastrophic flood, and an improbable revival. This is its story.
A Grand Addition to a Great Town
As the J.J. Newberry department chain expanded across the country, the company built this Mid-Century Modern building in Owego, NY’s historic downtown. In the late 1950s, this was a great addition to an already great town — and crowds lined up for the opening, just as they had at Newberry stores in cities across America.
Changing Times
J.J. Newberry flourished for many years, but with various changes to the marketplace the business went bust in the 1980s. The building on Lake Street went through various permutations of occupancy in the years that followed, never quite finding its footing again.
The Susquehanna Flood
In 2011, the Susquehanna River caused a devastating flood in downtown Owego. Like most buildings on Lake Street, the J.J. Newberry building sustained water damage — and then sat empty for two years, yearning to come back to life.
"The building sat empty for two years, yearning to come back to life."
That’s when the Meads stepped forward and began making plans.
Early Owego Opens Its Doors
On February 14th, 2013, Early Owego opened its doors to crowds of people — just like J.J. Newberry’s did back in 1958. Over a decade later, Early Owego is still going strong, with customers coming from all over the world to visit the store in historic downtown Owego.
Still Going Strong
More than eleven years since opening day, Early Owego Antique Center continues to thrive as one of the Southern Tier’s premier destinations for antiques, vintage goods, and collectibles. The building that once welcomed bargain shoppers now invites collectors and treasure hunters from across the country to explore its 21,000+ square feet and 95+ vendor booths.