If you step into the Papillionaire Treasure Shop off 84th St. and Cedardale Road, you are sure to find exactly what you didn’t know you needed. A painted hurricane lamp, for instance. Or a jar of vintage marbles. You might even find a miniature porcelain tea set or the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack on vinyl.
The possibilities seem endless! However, owner Cynthia Jones admits that customers won’t find many owls in the shop. That’s because she keeps them for her private collection. She has about two hundred right now, the quirkier the better.
Cynthia grew up in a military family and spent most of her childhood in Germany. She credits that upbringing for her interest in antiques and collectables. She was surrounded by beautiful, unusual items, and many of them were older than our nation. Both the artistry and the history fascinated her.
“I’m a sucker for history,” she says. “So, I will rabbit hole for way too long researching the history of something.”
In 2023, Cynthia started buying and selling online. After the first auction, she and her husband drove to South Dakota to pick up what she had bought, and it almost didn’t fit into their van. Obviously, Cynthia needed more room. She purchased a small camper that had been used as a hunting blind. “She was ugly,” Cynthia says. “But she had potential.”
With help from her husband and her dad, Cynthia gave the camper a makeover. Her dad built custom shelves, and Cynthia used old steamer trunks to create her signature look of treasure chests filled with curiosities and trinkets.
“I wanted it to feel magical inside,” she says. Cynthia named the camper Schmetterling, which is German for butterfly. She partnered with The Cheese Haus in downtown Papillion and had a great time selling from her camper in their parking lot. Much of her stock was breakable, though, so she started looking for a permanent location. In September 2025, she moved into her shop.
The blue camper didn’t retire. Cynthia says, “I can't wait for spring so I can park her in front of the store more often.”
Cynthia shops carefully and tries to keep her prices low. She knows these are luxury items, not necessities. “I want people to feel like they can come into the store, find something they love, and be able to afford it.”
And she loves the entire process. The hunt for a treasure, the thrill of getting a bargain, and the excitement when a customer discovers that perfect piece. Every step includes a great reward.
Cynthia doesn’t pretend to be an expert. She is simply sharing her dream and passion. She appreciates the great community support she has received, including regular customers who come in often to see what is new.
The shop is open every week, Wednesday through Saturday, with hours posted on the website. Cythnia welcomes seasoned collectors or people just beginning to explore vintage style. Everyone is invited to join the treasure hunt.