New Life at an Old Warehouse

465 North Rd, Freeville
(607) 844-5662

Whether you recall it as the “Home Necessities warehouse” or the “old Pepsi place,” most Dryden locals will know the exact location of what is now known simply as “The Warehouse” at 465 North Rd in Freeville.

Now home to long time Dryden business, The Second Knob Gifts & Antiques, and the new Global Thrift & More store as well as a handful of local crafters/vendors/resellers, The Warehouse is a no frills, unique shopping experience. Shana Karn, owner of The Second Knob Gifts & Antiques, partnered with Nancy Bell, owner of the warehouse and Global Thrift & More and her staff to bring The Warehouse to life—and to make it a fun, affordable place to shop, thrift and browse all while supporting small, local businesses and vendors.

Karn, who is a lifetime community resident and owner of The Second Knob Gifts & Antiques, which is a multi-faceted business itself—offering online auctions, estate sales, studio and natural light photography, is no stranger to thrifting, repurposing, or reusing. Pre-Covid, Karn and her father (who was her business partner) ran flea markets at their old shop –just a couple of miles down the road! 

Nancy Bell, longtime Marathon resident, is no stranger to multi-faceted businesses either; she is the founder of not-for-profit Mayor Potencial and Green Cleaning Pro cleaning company. Bell, like Karn, got into the thrifting and reuse business with a parent. 

Both Bell and Karn, who share an entrepreneurial spirit, are confident that The Warehouse will soon become a destination for people outside of the community, too—with plans already in place for large outdoor flea markets June-October (beginning June 8th, 2024), which will bring in vendors from across Central New York, while expanding available vendor space inside The Warehouse, too.  But potential plans stretch well beyond flea markets and vendor space, with Bell hoping to eventually find additional ways to connect with the community and garner community support and interest in visiting The Warehouse for fun, family-friendly and educational events and offerings. 

The Warehouse is currently open Thurs-Sat from 10am-3pm, with flea markets kicking off on June 8 from 9am-4pm and being offered on the second Saturday of every month June-October. Both businesses accept appointments outside of regular business hours, for donations to Global Thrift or for consignment to The Second Knob. Call or text: (607) 844-5662.

For now, both business owners are enjoying the new shopping venue and the many supportive customers and compliments it brings in while brainstorming ways for the venue to build a solid foundation for the future.