Bubba Brown’s Treasures is an antique and gift shop that lends a pop of color to lower Main Street. Bubba Brown’s home, in the pink building near the intersection of Main Street and Shore Road, adds to the charm and unique character of Port Washington. Bubba Brown’s, chock full of antique an
d new treasures, is reminiscent of shops you’d find in Sag Harbor or Martha’s Vineyard.
Florence Leniston, who has lived in Port Washington for 37 years, started the business 15 years ago. She named it after her mother, whose nickname was Bubba. Leniston purchased the building 
and worked hard to restore it to its former beauty. “The original tin ceiling and walls from the 1890s were hidden under sheetrock,” she said. “The tin has different designs and I painted them different colors. The windows outside have the original copper. I kept everything original. Many other buildings were redone, but I didn’t want to lose the original charm.”
According to Leniston, the building was originally a multifamily dwelling. “Port Washington was a prosperous working town,” said Leniston. “There were fisherman, sandminers and many people worked in aeronautics.”
Leniston is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and her shop was a part of the HarborFest Treasure Hunt.
The store carries a mixture of old and new. It’s bursting with antiques, including furniture, chandeliers, paintings, china, children’s toys and vintage posters. “People come in looking for movie props. Decorators come in,” said Leniston. “I collected many of these pieces over the years in Paris, Vermont and other places.”
Leniston carries handmade items from many countries. “I try to support people around the world trying to make sustainable living incomes,” said Leniston. “Many museums sell this type of item, but I sell them here. For example, there are handmade key rings from Nepal and wedding baskets made by East African women. The only other place that sells these baskets is the Brooklyn Museum.”
There are new items too, including one-of-a-kind jewelry, toys, books and hand-made items. She also carries items hand made in the United States. “I have steel bracelets with the New York subway map. It’s made by a mother-daughter team in Pennsylvania. I also carry sterling and pewter hand-stamped initial necklaces made in the United States. I have guest towels hand painted in New Jersey. I have hand-carved toys from South America.” Leniston carries unique gift items such as handmade soaps, embroidered pillows and hand-painted glasses. She has many items that would make great teacher gifts.
“This end of Main Street used to get more foot traffic, but they took away all the parking spaces in front of the stores,” said Leniston. “I do get customers who come in off their boats on a day trip to Port Washington. I had several boaters come in who came to Port Washington to see the Beluga whales a few weeks ago.”
Bubba Brown’s Treasures is located at 302 Main St. For more information, call 516-767-6200.
