By Alana Gibbs

If a hippopotamus statue, chandeliers galore, a carousel horse or other antique items are on your wish list, Horsefeathers has these and other antique items at a warehouse on Buffalo’s West Side.

• Horsefeather’s history:

Husband and wife, Hank and Cindy Sontag, have owned Horsefeathers for nearly 10 years.

“I originally bought this place for my son but that’s another story, five years later Cindy and I took it over,” Hank said.

Horsefeathers has been on 346 Connecticut St, for 18 years. Prior to that, Horsefeathers occupied a smaller place on Allen Street, by Main Street.

• The buyers:

The local owners they make most of their sales out-of-state and in Europe. All along the East Coast, West Coast and recently Texas are buyers.

“We just recently sold a ton of stuff to a company in Texas, like doors, windows, lighting fixtures, and sinks,” Hank said.

“We’ve sold a lot of antiques to restaurants, Hank has helped decorate some too,” Cindy said.

Fat Bob’s Smokehouse is a casual dine-in restaurant that specializes in Texas-style barbeque. It’s tucked away on 41 Virginia Place, off of Allen Street.  Hank decorated the interior of Fat Bob’s, the dim-lit restaurant and bar is peppered with old signs and a 6-foot pig to greet you at the door.”

A customer at Fat Bob’s bar area, Sonya LeCastre, commented about Fat Bob’s:

“It’s a place with great food and a great atmosphere, the turkey burgers and mashed potatoes are great.”

Gabriel’s Gate, Hemingway’s, Burchfield’s, Buffalo House, and The Anchor Bar are other local eateries with items from Horsefeathers.

Take a look inside Horsefeathers

The following photos provide a glimpse into the four floors of storefront Horsefeathers has.

• The facade of Horsefeathers, on Connecticut Street and Normal Avenue.

• Cindy and Hank Sontag, owners of Horsefeathers, stand next to a buffalo statue by the store’s entrance

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• Mouth of a hippopotamus statue on the fourth floor, part of the large collection devoted to carnival antiques.

• In the basement three buffalo statues stand, like the decorated buffalo statues across the city.

• A carousel horse placed at the top of the fourth floor stairs.

• Two “Tales from the Crypt” dolls are in the basement amongst sinks, an old Coca-Cola machine, a Mc Donald’s sign and an antique gas pump.

• The first floor is filled with chandeliers, various statues and paintings.

• The fourth floor has plenty of carnival items and posters, such as the gumball machine and the Johnnie Angels poster.

• A room filled with dozens of antique light-shades is one that fills needs of customers who look for authentic home supplies.

• One of the unique displays at Horsefeathers shows an antique set of chairs and a large tiger painting.

Contact Alana Gibbs at: gibbaf28@buffalo state.edu