Meet Melanie Fantus of Resale Nook in Vista

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Fantus.

Melanie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all began one sunny day in the 80’s in New Jersey… JUST KIDDING. Well, not really! I was born and raised in central NJ with my siblings and wonderful, loving parents. I was the weird kid in your elementary school that wore plastic, neon-green jackets. I was the quiet girl with anxiety and no confidence in your middle school. And I was the crazy, outgoing, pink-haired punk chick in your High School. I had it pretty easy as a kid, in the sense that my family was fiscally comfortable and I had no (obvious) natural predators.

I remember being excited for the weekend growing up – to get the newspaper and circle all of the garage sales my mom and I were going to check out. I remember I would always have black ink on my hands and cheeks from all of the newspapers… my mom and I called it “Going Junkin'” and it was one of my highlights of growing up (and also a very fond memory of my mom and I, and the joy we shared together just digging through strangers things…). I began my collection of the strange and unusual, and my love for second-hand and antiques was born!

As a kid, I always had weird and strange health things come up, but we always assumed it was because of my Avant-Garde tendencies. But as I got older, I started feeling really sick… all the time. My anxiety was out of control. Weird rashes and bumps were showing up in unpredictable places. The hospital became familiar to me. Getting out of bed was challenging. You get the point. When I was finally diagnosed with Lupus and Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis, among other fun-to-say autoimmune conditions, I finally had a sense of relief… those almost 20 years of not knowing what was wrong with me was finally solved!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Some days I can’t get out of bed without a struggle. Other days I can do literal cartwheels around the house. Every day I learn new things about my body and how to manage its quirks. Having an invisible illness’ sucks. But so does a lot of other things, right? It wasn’t until a few years ago that I really took control of my health – I started taking Barre classes (major shoutout to Align Fitness and Barre in San Marcos!!), cut gluten and alcohol out of my diet and told myself to smile more. It didn’t take long for those smiles to become authentic. The strength I have gained has not only helped my physical health significantly, but my emotional health has grown and matured as well.

I learned that attitude is huge – so I try to constantly remind myself that I am thriving, not surviving. And I wouldn’t have this pep in my step if it weren’t for me learning to love myself and accept my reality, no matter how scary it may feel. I would love to meet anyone who says their road has been smooth and challenge them to a thumb war. I might not win but I bet I will feel more joy afterwards.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Resale Nook – what should we know?
There is nothing wrong with dreaming big. But to be honest, I really didn’t know how I was going to ever own an antique store. My DREAM – since those days of going Junkin’ with my mom in NJ – would it ever come true? With my medical burdens, nothing THIS big seemed to be in reach…

My mom became co-owner of a cute little consignment store in Vista after leaving her job in the corporate world and… found an ad on Craigslist. Two cute little ladies were finally ready to retire and wanted to sell their store! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Talk about timing. Fast forward five years, this charming little storefront just east of downtown Vista is now completely family-owned and operated! My mom and dad (along with a small handful of amazing staff) run most of the day-to-day operations, and I manage the merchandising, marketing, and contract jobs/estates.

Resale Nook is our name, and consignment is our game! We specialize in respectfully-priced antiques, home furnishings, collectables and oddities, fine jewelry, furniture, and SO much more! Every time you visit the store, it will look a little different as we get new items in each and every day! The inventory at Resale Nook comes from estates that we have managed, consigners from all over the country (!!!), local artists and vendors, and even picks from our own personal collection!

We offer an approachable contract for this industry – we keep items for 90 days and consigners earn 50% of all sales on their items. Our Estate Services business model favors the consigner as we are able to begin selling the minute the contract is signed, and bring back quality items to our storefront for continued revenue!

At Resale Nook, we are known for our spunk, our passion, and our commitment to our customers and clients. We take pride in what we do. We call it SERVICE. We actually care about finding your family heirloom a good home – it’s not just a business transaction for us – it’s personal. When I create a new display, I like to approach it as if I am the customer… because I am one! Every THING has a story, and I have the unique opportunity to share those stories with others. It’s pretty dang cool, and I feel super lucky to be a part of it all.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
If it weren’t for my mom, Resale Nook wouldn’t be a reality. If it weren’t for my parent’s support, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love. If it weren’t for my team of doctors, my body would still be in attack. If you looked up the word SELFLESS in the dictionary, a photo of my mom Sue should be there. She devoted 18 years working in the non-profit industry before chasing this antique dream, and I sometimes cannot grasp how anyone can be as hardworking, caring, and positive as she is. She is the backbone of Resale Nook. She is one of my biggest advocates in my professional and personal life. And for that, I am so grateful.

I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing fitness professionals in the last few years as supplemental income (student loans, right?). I want to recognize each and every one of those special individuals for being my biggest group of cheerleaders – you all know who you are!

Quick note: My dad is pretty amazing as well and deserves a huge shoutout! Love you, Dad!

Contact Info:

• Address: Resale Nook
  829 Williamston St.
  Vista, CA 92084
• Website: https://www.resalenook.com/
• Phone: 7606393925
• Email: contact@resalenook.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resalenook/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ResaleNook/

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