This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
BELLEFONTE — At Teresa’s Treasures, “treasures” isn’t a marketing line. It’s a invitation to what lies behind the business’ doors. And if you walk in for one thing, you might be leaving with three.
Tucked into 126 W. High St. in downtown Bellefonte, the small shop started out as a knife store and has quietly grown into a place where hunters, collectors, gamers, students and curious neighbors all end up crossing paths. For owner Teresa Engle, that variety is the point.
“We reopened about two months ago as primarily a knife store,” she said, motioning to rows of blades in the front of the shop. “We have brands like Gerber, Old Timer, Red Force and we also have a lot of the old military knives.”
Those knife cases set the tone, but they’re just the beginning. Along the walls and inside glass displays, the store reads like a blend of surplus shop, history corner and neighborhood trading post. There are old military items from World War I and II and beyond, carved bone pieces believed to date from the Civil War era, tomahawks, deer hide from the western states, elk bone-handled knives and even an alligator tooth.
Teresa’s father is an avid collector and his eye for unusual pieces helped shape the shop.
“He’s said, ‘Why don’t you put some items on display?’” Teresa said. “I brought in a lot of different knives from all periods because I really liked the way they looked and the history behind them. Then I turned to swords.”
A few of those swords hang on the wall. From Viking-style blades to katanas and ship swords, including pieces with gold handles said to trace back to the 17th century. The store also carries crossbows, traditional and youth learning bows and other outdoor gear which includes hand-tied fishing flies from a former Milesburg fly shop.
“We’re trying to preserve what Centre County has done,” Teresa said of the local flies and items from the now-closed business. When a maker or business shuts its doors, she often buys their remaining stock so it doesn’t end up forgotten.
Walk farther into the shop and the mix shifts again. Shelves hold MREs, home appliances, small furniture pieces and wood items. Nearby, racks display clothing, including gowns, along with a brand-new wedding dress.
“We have variety of clothes,” Teresa said. “I buy large quantities of new dresses and formal dresses.”
Entertainment fills another corner. There are CDs and DVDs with anything from westerns to military movies, as well as newer titles. There are also video games ranging from early PC and Genesis titles to PlayStation 2, 3, 4 and 5, Xbox, Wii and GameCube.
“I like to keep a variety,” she said. “We carry all genres. We even have PC games from the early ’90s and 2000s when they were really big.”
Books line the shelves as well, with a focus on Stephen King, William Johnstone and Louis L’Amour. Teresa also collects medical and science books and has a soft spot for helping Penn State students who are dealing with the high cost of textbooks.
“Ten years ago, I had a bunch of Penn State books for math and science,” she said. “I know how expensive they are. I remember my first book was about $180, and it was one book. I’ve helped people find books because of that.”
Jewelry cases hold gold, silver and costume pieces for people who like something a little bigger and flashier. Glassware, silver and gold items, bullet-shaped salt shakers and other small knickknacks round out the shelves. Military boots, goggles, chemical-wear gear and cold-weather clothing serve everyone from hunters to workers who spend long hours outdoors.
“We have a bunch of new inventory for the hunting season,” she said. “The hunting materials and even the undergarments for people because it gets cold.”
Teresa tries to be the person who can find what you need, even if it’s not on the shelf yet.
“I pride myself on finding the items the customer is looking for,” she said. “I’ve had people come in here, tell me they couldn’t find something, and I found the item for them. I’ve even helped someone find an apartment. They came in looking for a DVD and an apartment. I found them both.”
For Bellefonte and the surrounding area, Teresa’s Treasures is the kind of small business doing its best to keep history, handmade goods and hard-to-find items in the Bellefonte community, one customer at a time.
Teresa’s Treasures is located at 126 W. High St. in Bellefonte. For more information, call 814-548-0088.
