When Southern California transplant Greg Etheridge found a two-story Victorian for sale on Bridge Street in the Village of Arroyo Grande, he knew it was his dream home, but not for living in.

For Etheridge, the unassuming yellow Victorian built in 1894 presented him the opportunity to open and operate a fine furnishings, accents and gift store and get away from &#8220the city.C

So, Etheridge bought the old house where he/s been living out his vision of owning and operating his own furniture business 7 Vintage Home 7 since right before Christmas last year.

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Prior to relocating to San Luis Obispo County last year, Etheridge was living in Santa Clarita and working in the retail furniture business, which he had done for 22 years.

He had always thought of owning his own furniture business during that time, so when he could no longer take living in &#8220the city,C Etheridge started to research towns where he could relocate and eventually discovered Arroyo Grande.

Etheridge said his concept of selling fine furnishings and furniture, along with unique gifts, seemed to fit with Arroyo Grande and especially with the Village, where a trendy shopping district has been emerging over the past several years.

&#8220This house was the perfect setting,C Etheridge explained, adding the city was very welcoming and open to his idea for Vintage Home. &#8220I want to keep (the house) exactly the way it is.C

And other than a few cosmetic repairs and some fresh paint, Etheridge hasn/t changed much inside the Victorian, except for the merchandise 7 there are no Ty Beanie Babies sold at Vintage Home.

The last retail store to occupy the Victorian sold Beanie Babies, and at the height of the stuffed animals/ popularity, customers would line up on Bridge Street, waiting for the store to open.

Etheridge seems to pride himself on offering high-end, quality products from vintage kitchen islands to silver-plated candelabras at affordable prices that appeal to everyone in the community.

&#8220I wanted to have antiques, but I didn/t want to have expensive antiques,C he said, adding the business is exceeding his expectations for the first year.

Etheridge is also keeping his prices low so his merchandise doesn/t collect dust, which in turn allows him to frequently bring in new products.

&#8220I have some locals who come in every week and want to see something fresh,C he said.

Vintage Home also employs an in-house artist, Bryan Dean, who refinishes antique pieces like desks and chairs and also makes new furniture look vintage, which is popular with customers.

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Each of the rooms inside Vintage Home has been decorated to reflect various types of interior decoration 7 from country French to Shaker decor and more 7 making customers feel like they/re in someone/s home.

&#8220It/s such a wonderful old house,C said Cynthia Snyder, an interior decorator who works for Etheridge and helps run Vintage Home. &#8220I want people (to feel like they/re in someone/s house). They/re coming into a house, and that/s how I treat them.C

Vintage Home also provides its customers, many of whom are locals, with the benefit of having an interior decorator on site, a service they often take advantage of, Snyder said.

&#8220I can decorate right from the store, and the customers love it,C she added.

To make customers feel even more at home inside Vintage Home, Etheridge plans to eventually offer tea and desserts at the establishment. The &#8220tea roomsC were expected to open this past week, but the tea hasn/t arrived yet, according to Snyder.

&#8220If someone wants to sit and have a cup of tea, let them,C Snyder said of the idea to offer tea in three rooms of the home and on the back patio. &#8220It/s not going to be a huge endeavor, just an integration.C

June 22, 2007