Eager to share his collectibles (particularly his mid-19th-century cast-iron pieces)
with other New Yorkers, Sung Park, a longtime Queens resident and antique aficionado, decided to convert an old basement into an exhibition space.
The store, located on 10-13 50th Ave in Long Island City, now doubles as a museum called Underpenny Antiques (yelp.com/biz/underpenny-museum-long-island-city).
Park also runs the Paris Health deli around the corner, but he was able to accomplish a long-term dream by opening Underpenny Antiques. The store can be found below ground level next to a parking lot and to the side of an ordinary brick house.
An “Open” sign, which hangs on an old city fire hydrant, marks its entrance.
Navigating down the short staircase to the doorway is no problem, but it’s difficult not to bump into the artifacts once you’re inside the store. Through small in size, Underpenny Antiques is filled to the brim with old collectibles and art pieces.
A treasure trove of rare items can be found under the rows of stamp blocks and the flashy displays of jewelry — anything from framed paintings to wooden birds to strange plastic mannequins.
While everything on the right side of the room is for viewing purposes only, the antiques on the left side are all for sale.
It’s very hard not to get lost in it all.
