WILBER, Neb. (KOLN) – A couple is selling pieces of Czech and Slovak heritage at their shop, P’s Antiques. Sue and Eric Placek travel to the Czech Republic to bring back pieces to sell in Wilber, Nebraska.
In 1963, the town was named the Nebraska Czech capital. Then in 1987, Wilber was deemed the Czech national capital of the U.S. by former President Ronald Reagan.
“I really wanted to do this. I have a big interest in the costumes from different areas. I do a lot of Czech music. My dad played accordion and my grandpa played accordion,” Sue said.
The Placeks named the store P’s Antiques because their family names are Prochaska and Placek. Sue says they opened in April of this year.
The unique business operates out of a historic building in Wilber with its own ties to Czech settlement.
“When (Czech families) settled, their craftsmen came with them. So this building that we’re in is a long bank building that they built,” Sue Placek said.
Part of the shop’s stock traces back to an antique store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa — a city Sue Placek said also celebrates Czech heritage. It’s home to a Czech museum and themed businesses.
“In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the owners of their village antique store there, they called and said, ‘Was Eric interested about, you know, buying out our inventory?’ And I had no idea that Eric had offered,” laughed Sue Placek.
“And we became friends with the owners. We bought a lot of stuff from over the years,” Eric Placek said.
When the owners retired and the store closed, the Placeks decided to open their own in Wilber, Nebraska. Sue Placek said they purchased the items in November and hauled them back in a trailer. Some pieces are still in the trailer because the shop ran out of room.
Items at P’s Antiques include accordions, kitchen cloths, costumes, pottery, glassware, painted scenes from different regions of the country, primitive kitchen tools, beaded belts, polka records, buttons and Czech toys.
The shop also carries jewelry crafted by Czech brothers who were killed at Auschwitz during World War II. Sue Placek said the brothers were known for their chains, glasswork and designs.
“And then when we were over in Czech Republic, where my ancestors came from, it’s just like if you’re walking into Wilber,” Eric said. “The creeks, the trees, everything- I can see why they settled here, because it was just like home.”
Sue Placek said the couple aims to carry a variety of items in the shop.
“We’re trying to mix it up and have a little bit of everything in here,” she said.
Passing the heritage to younger generations is central to what the Placeks do. Sue Placek also serves as vice president of the Wilber Czech Museum, where she displays a collection of kroj, traditional Czech costumes.
During a visit to the shop, she showed young girls the accordions and handcrafted costume pieces.
“It’s absolutely beautiful. Everything’s hand done on it, all the beading and everything on it,” Sue Placek said. “And you gotta sew all this in there. That’s not done with a machine. That’s all done by hand,” she said.
Eric Placek said the shop is a great way to pass on his collection.
“I always liked Czech glass and the Christmas ornaments and stuff, and I’ve collected those for years and years and years, and this is a good way to share it to share it to the next person,” he said.
Sue Placek said they hope to continue making trips to the Czech Republic. Otherwise, they get a lot of their finds on eBay and at garage sales.
“So we’ll probably make a few trips to the Czech Republic yet and see what we can bring back or see what we can do to ship things back with the tariff laws. Just whatever I can do to push the Czech heritage,” she said.
P’s Antiques is located at 307 S. Main St. in Wilber and is open noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The shop will also be open during the Wilber Czech Festival, scheduled for July 31 through Aug. 2.
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