CAMDEN—Directly across from Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe, at the corner of Bayview and Frye streets, in Camden, a longtime vacant space is currently being renovated to open as a home decor, furniture and artisan shop, to open in late May.

Funky Farmhouse is the collaboration between long-time friends, Andy Young, the owner of the building, and Sue Gerard, a shop owner from Waterville.

Gerard, who used to own a similar refurbished furniture shop in Waterville, had dreams of coming back to the Midcoast to open a new store here.

“This space has been sitting empty for the last seven or eight years,” said Young, who bought the building a year and a half ago. “The people who previously owned it originally envisioned the space to be a live music venue with a drop-floor ‘dance pit’ in the middle of the room with a small stage, but they eventually realized they didn’t want to go in that direction.”

The friends have formed a new business partnership, calling the shop Funky Farmhouse.

“It’s an eclectic store with a number of upcycled furniture that sometimes is described as “farmhouse chic,” said Young.

“But it’s more than that,” said Gerard. “I want people to know that there is going to be a variety of things to shop here. Country, farm-house, modern and original works.”

“We will be working with a number of local artisan and crafts vendors, who will be showcasing their artwork, such as photography, artwork, coastal scenes with dried flowers, and we’re currently looking for vendors who do stained glass, blown glass and ceramics,” added Young.

Young, a carpenter, and who owns Bald Rock Property Management, did all of the renovations to the interior, and even has repurposed a number of shop fixtures, such as the beadboard front counter and a pair of floor-to-ceiling shelving units from items that have long sat in his barn.

And Young and Gerard aren’t only running the store, they are also contributing some of their own handmade items to the inventory.

“I’m taking some of my carpentry skills and repurposing furniture, such as doors, cabinets, windows and shutters and creating new pieces from them,” said Young. “I’ve been called a pack-rat for many years.”

“I’m pretty much doing the same thing as Andy, as well,” said Gerard. “I’ll give an old piece of furniture new life. We really want this place not just be a shop for tourists, but for locals looking for something in their price range as well. I have a soft spot for local single moms who want to find nice things for their homes at an affordable price.”

They plan to open the shop year-round, starting in late May.

Funky Farmhouse is open to new vendors. They can be found at Funky Farmhouse Decor

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com