New P’ville shop offers collectibles of all kinds

‘Curious Elements’ is no misnomer

By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink

Parksville, NY – This summer, Sullivan County saw the grand opening of an antique store that carries very unusual and odd objects. As you walk in, you are greeted by all kinds of extraordinary gems and old treasures. It feels almost like you are entering a museum rather than a store.

No matter what your interests, you will surely find an item in this shop that can spark your curiosity. That said, you will understand why the store is called Curious Elements. A perfect name for such an interesting venue.

The best part of visiting the store is you will be greeted by its two extremely friendly owners, Jackie and Richard Cordero. They have been collecting the items for over 20 years, and have worked together designing the layout of the store.

Curios and toys, too

“It’s a shop full of oddities and curiosities, lots of vintage artwork and toys, just a really fun place to walk around and look at things,” said Jackie Cordero.

Curious Elements’ things include vintage kitchenware, hardware, framed art, taxidermy, novelties, gifts and many more unique antique pieces. As Jackie mentioned, there are also vintage toys, from Mickey Mouse collectibles, an Easy Bake Oven and Cabbage Patch kids to a ventriloquist’s doll.

Part of Parksville’s revitalization

The shop is located in this hamlet which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, dating back to 1904. Parksville began as a bustling community that, prior to the Great Depression, was surrounded by as many as 100 resorts and hotels. Sadly, it experienced an abrupt decline when the last of the O&W trains ran through in the 1950s. Then, in 2009, the hamlet endured another setback as a major Rte. 17 upgrade caused the hamlet to be bypassed.

It seemed Parksville would become a forgotten place, but in recent years it has begun to make a comeback. The former railroad line is now part of the expanding O&W Rail Trail, with plans to connect to Liberty and Livingston Manor. The annual B’Kawk Festival has also drawn crowds to Main Street. Curious Elements is just another part of this revitalization.

“We moved to Parksville in the beginning of 2022, and we love the idea of being able to bring life back to the area,” said Jackie Cordero.

In the future, the Corderos plan to offer a variety of classes in arts, crafts, upcycling disused items and even in taxidermy.