Suffolk News-Herald

Most of the week, John Brinkley is building houses.

But on weekends, the owner of Seven Rivers Construction and his wife, Cindy, are busy building their side business, Three Black Cats Antiques and Collectibles.

The former bar at 1340 Carolina Road, with many of its original mirrors and counters still intact, now serves up depression glass, antique furniture, heirloom china and the like.

Open since January, the business frequently captures the interest of passersby on the heavily traveled U.S. Route 13.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

&uot;Business is doing real well,&uot; said John Brinkley.

Crossing the threshold of Three Black Cats takes customers on a trip back in time, with much of the merchandise probably having come from someone’s attic. Most of his inventory is acquired from estate sales, auctions and individuals trying to downsize their property, he said.

&uot;I enjoy history and old stuff,&uot; said Brinkley. &uot;Old things usually have more character than new ones.&uot;

If needed, he repairs or refinishes furniture before it is sold.

Besides, antiquing and collecting comes natural to Brinkley, whose family owns Shorty’s Antique and Produce.

&uot;We’re a big family,&uot; Brinkley said. &uot;We have a lot of stuff to sell.&uot;