A FORMER restaurant in Brampton that stood empty for years has finally been brought back to life as a haven for vintage items.

Vintage North is a three-story shop filled with all the retro memorabilia, vintage clothes, and antique pieces that could possibly be bought.

The vast space is rented out to dealers from the area to showcase their wares which has the added bonus of supporting local independent businesses.

Sharon Jackson, the owner of Vintage North, said: “Vintage North is an eclectic mix of vintage, antique, retro, and anything for anyone that loves anything about bygone days and a different lifestyle.

“It’s still a work in progress, we have got lots to do and lots of ideas but we’re getting there.”

The building, which was previously Capernaum Bistro, is an unlikely pick for a vintage shop but it was perfect for Sharon.

“We had been looking for something for over two years and this building had stood empty looking very sad,” she said.

“The moment we walked in, we thought ‘yes, this is the one’.”

Jessica Jackson supports the family business with media and promotions.

She added: “We have noticed that Brampton has such a good little vintage and antique community so we wanted to see if we could help to contribute and support that.

“It has been a huge team effort, a lot of people have helped with things we wouldn’t really expect them to help with.”

The grand opening on Monday saw a near-constant barrage of people traipsing up and down the stairs with customers proclaiming about how they had been waiting impatiently for the day to come and others looking in awe at some of the items in stock.

Catharine Bone, 22, from Brampton, was clutching on to a stylish black hat as she wandered around the shop.

She said the shop is “amazing; so cute”.

The support from the community in Brampton has set the business off to a positive start, which Jessica and Sharon hope will continue.

“We hope it will bring more people to Brampton,” said Sharon.

“If it isn’t already, it will become a hub for people that love antiques, vintage, and retro.”

The various dealers that occupy the space throughout the shop sell a wide range of items.

Model aeroplanes, vintage clothes, old leather-bound hardback books, wooden Star Wars figurines, and jewellery line the walls.

Charlotte Tyson is the owner of CLaTter Vintage, which can be found on the top floor.

She said: “Retail is really difficult these days so when we’re sharing the cost of the building it makes it more of an affordable way of having a small business.

“It’s lovely that Sharon, and family, are going to keep it going seven days a week so it gives us the best chance of making it successful.

“It’s such a beautiful building and it’s full, it’s brimming now with life and so many people have been in and out of it.”