Walk down Rhode Island Avenue in northeast D.C., and you’ll come across a wealth of antiques on the street. There’s vintage furniture, decorations, stacks of records, and various tchotchkes. Most days, an American flag waves near the center of the assortment; at its base, a sign lets customers know they’ve made it to Victor’s Treasures. At the helm of the makeshift antique store is its dedicated owner, Victor Vsay Hucks.
For the last several years, come rain or shine, Hucks has tended to his treasures, playing upbeat music on his speaker and calling out friendly “How you doing’s” to people walking and driving past. He can often be found sweeping or leafblowing debris off the sidewalk, chatting with friends or customers, or sipping on his daily seven-shot latte from across the street. Other times, he sits in a rolling chair amid the treasures, dutifully watching over the shop.
The volume of antiques ebbs and flows from day to day. Some days, it covers all 10 feet of the sidewalk. Other times, the goods are tightly organized, staying close to the building they sit in front of. Generally, Hucks keeps a portion of his treasures outside, meaning they’re left to bear the elements that occasionally wear them down. What’s outside, though, is only the tip of the iceberg of Hucks’ valuables. The rest, he keeps in his truck and the building behind his outdoor store…