Tucked inside a Victorian farmhouse in the heart of Denville, Time’s Tin Cup Vintage invites visitors to do more than shop. It invites them to explore.
Around every corner, there is something unexpected: silver pieces that once graced formal dining tables, delicate vases with stories of their own, Revolutionary War-era artifacts, vintage clothing, toys, sports memorabilia, and thousands of other objects waiting to begin their next chapter. Some guests stop in searching for a specific treasure. Others simply wander, letting curiosity lead the way.
For owner Laurel Durenberger, that sense of discovery is exactly the point.
“You can explore online and you can explore in the shop,” she said.
With between 10,000 and 20,000 items in the store and storage, Time’s Tin Cup Vintage offers an ever-changing collection shaped by estate purchases, consignments, and community drop-offs.
“You never know what things are going to be coming in.”
Many visitors spend hours browsing the two-level shop, where each room reveals another layer of history. Upstairs, shoppers will find everything from toys and music to kitchenware and sports collectibles. A recent acquisition of Mets memorabilia from a Denville resident has been especially popular, often keeping sports fans occupied while others continue exploring the rest of the shop.
“I do have people that come in and spend an enormous time inside because they ask a million questions and want to look all around. It is like a museum,” Laurel added.
That educational component is one of her favorite parts of the business.
“It’s fun to tell people about where things are from and what they actually are.”
The shop has also evolved into something far beyond a traditional antique store.
“I sort of have become a service-oriented antique shop,” she explained.
In addition to retail, Laurel offers appraisals and consignment services, helping families thoughtfully navigate belongings that often represent generations of memories. Her website features more than 2,000 searchable items, allowing customers to browse by time period, purchase online, and arrange shipping or pickup at the store.
In an increasingly competitive industry, Laurel views her online presence as an essential way to make the shop accessible to customers beyond Morris County. Still, visitors regularly travel from across the region—and sometimes from much farther—to explore the shop in person. She welcomes the growing interest in antiques and is delighted to see more people embracing a passion she has loved for decades.
Laurel’s fascination with history began long before she opened her antique business. Growing up in Baltimore, she spent countless hours visiting thrift shops and warehouses with her mother, searching for unusual objects and wondering where they came from.
“I always loved Goodwills and thrift shops.”
Her love of collecting deepened through theater. Laurel’s mother directed a theater department, and Laurel often helped gather props for productions.
“I grew up doing props for my family’s Summer Stock Theater ‘The Gateway Playhouse’ in Bellport, Long Island. I had to collect props and go and get them for shows,” she explained. “It is where my love for finding unique and unusual things began.”
Those early experiences sparked a lifelong appreciation for objects and the stories they carry.
“I started collecting things really young, and became interested in the history of things.”
Before becoming an antique dealer, she built a varied career that included publishing, theater, art, and running a virtual assistant business.
“I have a background in theater and I used to be a publisher. I’ve done a bunch of different things before I got into this.”
With more time to pursue a lifelong passion, Laurel decided to take her interest in antiques beyond collecting and into business.
“After the kids left home, I really thought it was a nice opportunity to maybe dabble in being an antique dealer, so I started working in other people's shops, and eventually I decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop myself.”
She first established her business in Boonton, where she spent 10 years building a loyal following. But as her inventory continued to grow, she began searching for a larger space.
That search ended unexpectedly during a coffee outing with her daughter in Denville.
“My daughter and I were having coffee in Denville and went for a walk. We passed the shop and it said ‘for lease.’”
After some encouragement from her daughter, she inquired and eventually decided to move forward.
The building, a charming farmhouse dating to 1900, had previously served as a home, toy store, and salon.
“The house really spoke to me and all of the pieces sort of fell into place.”
Time’s Tin Cup Vintage opened in Denville in January 2024.
The flow of new discoveries continues every day.
“Currently, I'm working with an estate in Dover, that's three generations worth of stuff. It's going to be 40 to 50 bins of inventory.”
This summer, she plans to expand the shop’s creative spirit with Art Yard, a program that will invite participants to spend time in the backyard making art from vintage materials such as old vases, stamps, and found objects.
For Laurel, the shop is ultimately about much more than antiques. It is about honoring stories, preserving history, and creating meaningful connections.
“Even though it takes 100% of my life and time, it’s like playing a game. It’s fun. I love doing it.”
In a world that moves quickly, Time’s Tin Cup Vintage offers something increasingly rare: a chance to slow down, look closely, and discover that the most meaningful treasures are often the ones with a story to tell.