Duck Creek Antique Mall, the area’s finest and longest-running class act.

The mall was established in 1993 by Nancy Martin in the Grace A. Rush
Bakery building located at 3715 Madison Rd. in the Oakley area of
Cincinnati. From the start, Nancy had a clear picture of how she wanted
things to be. Quality would the defining word. She assembled a group of
the area’s finest dealers and gave them a facility that would showcase their
goods in a complementary manner.

The Grace A. Rush Bakery building was erected in 1937 by Grace Rush,
an upper crust lady with an entreprenurial bent. After establishing a
thriving fruitcake business in her home on Burch Ave. in Hyde Park, she
found it necessary (in the height of the great depression, no less), to build
and move into the facility on Madison Rd. There, she proceeded to supply
fruitcakes and sweets to finer groceries and department stores until the
late 1980’s.

Nancy and Craig Martin purchased the building in 1992 and set about
retooling the bakery for another use. Craig Martin, an architect by
profession, redesigned the interior and parking lot into the perfect antique
mall. The interior of Duck Creek is very warm and inviting with its wood
floors, natural light, attractive wood display cases and gracious staircase
to the lower level. The grounds are especially inviting. Beautifully
landscaped around ample parking, seven magnificent pine trees shade the
outdoor space.

Duck Creek is the home of over 150 dealers. Many of the dealers at Duck
Creek have been at the mall since the beginning. The dealers trade in the
finest antiques available. They feature porcelains, cut glass, sterling,
pottery, English antiques, fine art, Victoriana, Cincinnati collectibles, midcentury
modern, and the list goes on. The mall is particularly known for its
impressive selection of Rookwood pottery.

As a shopping experience, Duck Creek is the best around. The mall touts
its quality antiques and collectibles, but there is also an eclectic aspect.
Available are fun, interesting items that range from Victorian valentines to
old pharmacy bottles to Daisy BB guns. No matter what specialties they
feature, the dealers do a great job.

Customer service at Duck Creek is the best. Every staff member is
professional and courteous. Each one is knowledgeable and generous
with sharing information. Dealer service is a high priority also. Duck
Creek likes to cater to its dealers. It is understood that without them, the
mall has nothing. They are the whole show.

Ginger Dawson, a dealer who was in the mall, purchased the business
from the Martins in November 2005. With a new owner comes new
energy.

Since the beginning of the Duck Creek Antique Mall in 1993, many
changes have occurred in the antiques industry. We have seen the
advent of the internet and eBay and the age of the mega mall. Through it
all, the Duck Creek Antique Mall has prospered. Quality, atmosphere, and
excellent customer service have proven to be timeless attributes. When
foundations are so solidly established, it is hard to falter.

The future is before us. With current concerns about the environment, the
antiques industry can help with the necessary direction that the public must
pursue. Antiques are, of course, the original recyclable. If we can couple
this sensiblity with an interest in history, we may be able to come full circle.
By learning where we have been, perhaps we can resolve where we are
headed.

The Duck Creek Antique Mall looks forward to many, many more years of
great antiques, collectibles, dealers, and customers!

--Ginger Dawson