In 1958, Bill purchased the estate of Charles Kandt, a prominent Dearborn businessman for the seeming outrageous sum of $25000.00. The former lumberman’s home was loaded with antique furniture—tables, chairs, lamps, and more. Always the entrepreneur, Bill smelled an opportunity and began exploring to see whether a market existed for antique furniture.

 

 

This fateful discovery led to a new direction in Bill’s business career: the opening of Grandma’s Antiques & Oddities in 1964.

 

For young John Verhines, it meant a new way of life.

 

“From the time I was six years old up until I met my wife Brenda in my twenties, my father and I spent our summers traveling to antique shows throughout the Midwest,” recalls John. We’d load up all the furniture we restored over the winter, sell it, then restock with antiques to restore for the following year.”

 

In those early days, Grandma’s Antiques used an antebellum, historic home adjacent to the current location at 32220 Michigan Avenue as its showroom. The ambience of that old building left an impression on the younger Verhines, particularly as he restored older antiques.

 

 “I’d often imagine the people who used the furniture, who sat in that chair, what did they keep in this drawer, stuff like that,” said John. “I believe that sort of connection really makes a difference in restoring a piece.”

 

Restoring techniques back then involved little or no technology, far different from the high-powered tools and systems Gramco uses in its operation today. Restorers used a small square of glass to remove finish and avoid damaging the wood. One hundred percent of the sanding and finish was done by hand. The art of restoring furniture depended solely on the artisan’s two hands and intuition towards the builder’s intent.