Hidden Treasures is hidden. It’s off the beaten path in downtown Franklin, but once you find it, it’s where you’ll also find a unique selection of primitive items and rustic décor. The screen door intentionally slams behind you when you enter, transporting you into a space that feels like a familiar farmhouse.

Gwen Roehler has only owned Hidden Treasures for a little longer than a year, but she and her store are already fixtures in Festival Country.

Q: How did you become a small business owner?

A: I became interested in having a store from my mom, who owned an antique store and tearoom in Edinburgh called Step Back in Time, which she operated for about 20 years.

Q: What was the earliest spark for this idea?

A: As a kid, my friends used to laugh at me because at least once a week, for sure once a month, I rearranged my whole bedroom. When my friends would spend the night, I’d say, “Hey, let’s rearrange my room!” I watched my mom do it throughout our house, and I just picked up on it. And I thought that one day it would be cool to own a shop, too.

Q: Where did you grow up, and what did you do before becoming a small business owner?

A: I grew up in California, and I was a correctional officer in San Diego. When I moved to Indiana, I started working at the prison. In my downtime, I worked at my mom’s shop.

Q: What’s the neatest thing you have in the store right now?

A: Primitive antiques are where my heart is, and they are becoming more difficult to find. The coolest piece I have in the store right now is this antique mantel that I have next to the register. I purchased it from another store in Beech Grove when it was going out of business. It’s not for sale, but people always want to buy it. It’s one of my favorite pieces.

Q: What is the most unique find you’ve ever come across in your search for antiques?

A: I found a 1890s birthing chair once. You could say it was unique, even a little strange, and I definitely hadn’t seen anything like it before. It stayed in the store for about a month, and then finally, someone came in who just had to have it.

Q: What do you see in the future for this business?

A: In the next five or so years, I would love to make my shop come full circle and one day add a tearoom, just like my mom’s. I have my mom’s cookbook that I keep with me here in the store. It might not be in this exact location, but it would still be in Franklin.

Q: Is there a similar business that you admire, and why?

A: I love Farm Girl Mercantile and Salvage Sisters. While all of our stores have different vibes and sell different styles of antiques, we have a great relationship with each other. They’ve been in Franklin longer than I have, but I can always ask the owners for advice. When a customer is looking for something specific, we call each other and send customers wherever they can find it.

It’s not about competition and should never be competitive. It’s about women supporting women.

No other place operates like that. But Franklin does.

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to see walk through your doors, past, present or future?

A: The only person I would love to see walk through the doors is my mom, who has passed away. If it were possible, I would love for her and my dad to walk in together. My dad still helps me with things around the store, and he tells me he’s proud of me all the time, which is just amazing.

Q: What do you like best about your business and this community?

A: I love the people. I have customers who used to visit my mom’s shop, and one of my vendors was a vendor in my mom’s shop. I have wonderful vendors.

Many of the customers have become my friends. I’m usually the one working in the store, and as we’ve gotten to know each other, I’ve developed some fabulous friendships.

In a big city or a big shop, it’s a transactional “hi” and “bye” situation. But in a small shop, it becomes personal.

Q: When you’re not doing this, what are your passion projects?

A: I love shopping for antiques. I’m also on the board of Edinburgh’s American Legion. I’m the bingo caller every Wednesday, but most importantly, I love being involved with them because they do so much for the community and veterans.

Q: Do you have any funny or unbelievable stories since starting this business?

A: I love to sing, but that doesn’t mean I need to be singing! I always have 50s–70s rock playing in the store. One day, I was in the back, just belting it out, and I didn’t hear a man come into the front of the store. Then I heard him say, “Yeah, you and my wife neither one will ever be in a band.” I laughed for a week about that.

Gwen with an article about her mom's shop, Step Back in Time.