Even with a shortened holiday shopping season, Milford area antique, consignment and vintage décor shops and galleries enjoyed a busy couple of months.

Joan Dargie of Vynterest, located at 326 Nashua St., Milford, announced that she is the new owner of what will be called ‘Off the Oval,’ starting Jan 2. That new shop will occupy the 326 Nashua St. address, as Vynterest owner Jodi will relocated her shop to 475 Elm St.

Dargie, who maintains the entire downstairs space at Vynterest with her wares, said that people shopping this year were mostly looking for antiques.

“Repurposed and restored items always go fast, depending on the right colors,” she said. “Right, now there are 50 or 60 vendors in this space. And we did lose a week, with Thanksgiving being so late so people were shopping in October.”

As for taking over the building, Dargie said it was a major decision.

“It was a big decision,” she said. “Plus, I have a shop on South St., ‘Consigning for Good.’ Jodi is moving Vynterest and opening a new job at Savage Farm which is located at 475 Elm. She’s refurbishing that now and it’s going to take her about six months to complete that, and she’ll re-open in June.”

Dargie said that was the main reason she decided to take over the large space at 326 Elm St – to continue to give vendors a place to sell their goods.

“That’s why I stepped up,” she explained. “I said all the vendors could stay, and that would have happened last week. So, I wanted to keep things going. Vendors would have no time in between to regroup.”

The two women will maintain a working relationship, but not a partnership.

“As for staying or going, 90% of the vendors are staying for now,” Dargie continued. “Once the other space is open, they’ll have the option to stay or go with Jodi in June.”

According to Dargie, she and Kincaid haven’t mapped out what will distinguish each shop from the other. As for the new name, ‘Off the Oval,’ seemed catchy and fitting.

“A lot of words were already part of someone else’s business name,” she said. “You can’t say ‘market’ and you can’t say ‘flip.’ I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. So, when I said ‘Off the Oval,’ all the friends and the dealers that I rana the name by said it sounded good.”

With a new business under her belt, Dargie said she plans on focusing on special events at ‘Off the Oval.’

“At the beginning of February, we’ll be doing a wine tasting and some sort of craft for Valentine’s day,” she said.

Still, Dargie admitted that while people are shopping online, there runs the risk of stores being out of items, items would not arrive in time for Christmas, or porch pirates were stealing packages from customers.

“The other thing about it supporting the local shops is that people have to work there and they need to get paid,” she said. “And hopefully in turn, those people will spend some of their money and get into our local economy.”

Just across the road and down to 22 Clinton St., Milford Antique Market’s Lydia Stanley said the shortened shopping season only slightly effected the business.

“It really didn’t,” she said. “People were shopping early this year, because we had our holiday events in November.

According to Stanley, trends include primitives, which are making a comeback.

“Jelly cupboards, pieces in blues and reds, shabby chic is always popular,” she said. “And in January, we’ll be opening the upstairs which will double our vendors space. Right now, we have 32, and we have a wait list of sellers who want to get involved and sell here.”

In Amherst, Junction 71, 71 NH-101A, unit 18, celebrated their first holiday season.

Owner Pamela Robinson said the year has been, “fantastic.”

“People have sought us out,” she said. “I know there are other gift shops on the road here, but we have had a mix of both people looking for something specific in general or they’re looking for something then know they can find here.”

Locally made goods were especially popular this year, according to Robinson.

“The wooden flags were very hot,” she said. “I have one military service man that makes them in Merrimack.”

Robinson said the shop is relatively full, with 14 full-time dealers and 24 consigners.

“I’m compiling a waiting list at this point,” she shared.

Robinson said although the shopping season was abbreviated, she did sell a fair number of gift certificates which will ensure those customers will be returning hopefully sometime soon.