Carmine Y Reimagined in the 21st Century

When Len Peters learned the property adjoining his was for sale in 2020, he knew just a little about it.

“People were always asking about the “gas station” next door,” he says. “But I had no idea the long history it had in the community.”

Peters, who owns the antique venue previously known as County Line Antiques, acquired the property from the Estate of Norris Rohde. Though originally a gas station, grocery store, sausage factory and meat market, it had been vacant for several years. Prior to that, it hosted antiques and vintage dealers under the name Gypsy Rose Antiques.

“We’ve spent many hours reclaiming these buildings,” Peters, an antique dealer who has been coming to the Round Top shows for decades, says. “Cleaning out, clearing out, we’ve discovered great, strong bones – and hints of the past.”

One of the finds was a vintage sign Y Station – which led to Peters renaming the entire corner to reflect the property’s past history.

The buildings to the north, painted gold, have their own set of history. Over time, the smaller homes and offices were relocated to the property – including a doctor’s office and a couple of farm houses. Peters’ plan is to use all of the buildings for antiques and vintage dealers during the three annual shows, with the upcoming spring show set to open March 20. Peters will welcome 25 dealers – and offer food and drink trucks throughout the run of the show.

“We have ample parking off 237, with easy load-in and loadout,” Peters says.

Peters plans to add guest rooms for rent in the old gas station in the future.