Thomas said Sherrylynn got a loan, bought the building and the two spent $30,000 renovating it. After about three months of work, the couple was officially open for business in Old Town Keller in 2003.
“It was amazing. ... We finally got it,” Thomas said.
The antique mall operates through various booths set up by dealers, many of whom specialize in certain types of antique products. Thomas said the mall operates as a home for all of the dealer booths, totaling up each booth’s sales around the end of the month and paying them. Memories N’ Treasures makes a commission from the sales.
In 2011, Sherrylynn passed away. While she may not be running the store in the physical world anymore, Thomas said she is still there in spirit—literally. He claims the store is haunted by his wife and others who occupied the building years before.
“She was dying of cancer,” Thomas said. “They sent her home. They couldn’t do anything else for hospice. We sat and talked for a long time, and I told her if there’s anything beyond this, let me know.”
After her passing, Thomas said she made it clear that she was not going anywhere. Thomas did not enter the store again for about three months, but said his employees experienced her presence.Thomas said Sherrylynn’s policy was for the store to play only Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas. When employees got tired of the music and switched it, they opened the store the next morning to Christmas music on full blast.
“I know for a fact that was her,” he said.
Thomas said one of the main things that sets Memories N’ Treasures apart and has ensured its success is its focus on customer service. Every Saturday and Sunday, they bake chocolate chip cookies for customers. A coffee maker and snack station are always available.
“There’s one thing that sets you apart from anybody else—it’s called customer service,” Thomas said. “It’s hard to find anymore—used to [be] everybody had it. We try very hard to service our customers [and] make them feel wanted because they are.”
But to Thomas, the antique mall is more than just a business—it gave him a purpose after Sherrylynn died and he retired at age 58, he said.
“It gives me something to do every afternoon,” Thomas said.
Memories N’ Treasures Antique Mall
148 Pecan St., Keller
817-431-3380
www.facebook.com/memoriesntreasuresHours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.
