Co-owner of The Shiny Black Door Augusten Burroughs peeks through the doors of the new eclectic collectibles shop on the second floor of Thornes Marketplace just days before its opening.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
NORTHAMPTON — Thornes Marketplace has welcomed a new business on its second floor with The Shiny Black Door, an eclectic collectibles shop offering a highly curated selection of rare jewels, fine art and other unique collectibles.
Leading this creative venture are best-selling author Augusten Burroughs, his husband and literary agent Christopher Schelling, and longtime friend and colleague Shari Sirkin, a creative and entrepreneur. Burroughs and Sirkin will run the shop in Suite 260 and have opened the business together after years of being wide-ranging collectors of one-of-a-kind items themselves.
When eyeing locations for potential shops, Burroughs mentioned he wished there was a spot like Thornes Marketplace they could find in their search of a home for their new business. Sirkin, who lives in Connecticut currently as well as Burroughs, had never heard of the location and shortly after discovering it they found a potential space for The Shiny Black Door.
Burroughs said they visited the location and the layout of the store was in his words, “perfect.” When visitors of Thornes pass by and come through The Shiny Black Door, they enter a maze of curiosity.
“We wanted it to be a curiosity cabinet that you could step into because we have such a huge variety of things,” Burroughs said.
With essentially a fork in the road as you enter through The Shiny Black Door, you can choose either path and become lost in the space that holds pieces from each Burroughs and Sirkin’s collections, including fine and undiscovered art, collectibles, musical instruments, vintage clothing, furniture and home accessories from antique to modern, all set at a range of prices.
A Northampton native, Burroughs is best known for his memoirs, “Running with Scissors” and “Dry.” He’s had nine titles appear on the New York Times bestseller list. He said while his childhood in Northampton was dysfunctional, as written about in his books, it was still somewhat of a homecoming for him.
“I’m returning to the scene of the crime, if you will, but this time, I am bringing joy and experience. It’s an exciting way for me to be back here on a brand-new journey,” he said.
Burroughs said he spent a good amount of time at Thornes Marketplace as a teen, and to have the new shop opening there is a surreal experience.
“I spent a lot of time at Thornes as a teen because I was obsessed with the window designs,” Burroughs said, adding his silhouette was once painted on the walls of Thornes’ fourth floor as an art project that remained for years.
In the time leading up to the shop’s opening, Burroughs and Sirkin have noted passersby have peeked in with much curiosity.
“The looks on their faces have been amazing,” Sirkin said. “Even though they can see that it’s not open yet, they can’t help but be drawn in. That sense of wonder is what everybody will experience as they walk through the door.”
Burroughs’ love of jewelry came from his paternal grandparents, who collected jade in China and Hong Kong, and inspired him from a young age. As he has gone on book tours across the world, he has been collecting many unique items. Under the moniker The Blue Paisley Fox, he sells jewelry on 1stdibs.com.
He added the wide variety of options in jewelry offered, as well as other items, keeps things at the store interesting for anyone who passes through.
Walking through the store, Burroughs showcased items varying from jewelry to instruments, to antique furniture, art pieces and so much more. Prices on items vary from inexpensive to high end expenses depending on certain art, antiques and jewelry pieces. There are options for all.
Burroughs said it’s been a fun experience getting the shop ready to open as they are taking so many items they have collected over the years and are “releasing it back into the wild” for others to enjoy. He hopes those who come through The Shiny Black Door are able to explore and discover a potential new collectable.
“My favorite emotion is awe. In good interior design there’s always a focal point but here there’s not. The focal point is really an intellectual focal point, like where do I look first?” Burroughs said. “It’s exciting to introduce people to things they may have never come across or seen before. We’re creating an immersive experience for people so they can share in the joy that we feel. Every piece has a story and a history.”
