When Sara Ann Carter moved Russell's Antiques to Howard Street last year, she was concerned about filling the new larger space.
Now the store has outgrown that space, so she's opening an annex later this year.
Carter has reached an agreement to expand into the space now occupied by Turnrow Book Co. at 311 Howard St. She hopes to have the annex open in October.
"I think it's going to make a nice addition to the street," she said. "The more antique shops you have in a town, the more people want to come."
Turnrow will move across the street. The target opening date is Aug. 25.
Russell's opened on Howard Street last October after moving from West Park Avenue. It moved from a location with about 800 square feet of showroom space to one with about 2,500.
But after a few months on Howard Street, the furniture was selling so well that Carter decided she needed more room. The Turnrow space was "just the perfect solution for what I wanted to do," Carter said.
The new space will house primarily furniture items. No jewelry will be sold there.
After Turnrow moves out, the site will be remodeled somewhat before the annex opens. A wall will be knocked out, and shelves will be removed to add room.
"We're using every inch we can use," said Carter, who especially likes the windows as a display space.
Initially, the annex will be open only on Friday and Saturday, but if people want to look at something there on another day, someone at the main store can let them in.
That schedule might be adjusted depending on demand.
Carter's parents opened Russell's in 1961.
She and her husband, Gerald, took it over in 1977 after her parents died, and she later began running it herself.
Carter said the business has been thriving downtown. Then again, she is confident that a person who works hard and has a good product can succeed there.
Having grown up in Greenwood, she remembers how downtown used to be, and she is pleased to be part of a revival in that area.
"Greenwood was such a bustling community when I came along," she said.
