Autumnal Antique Hunting at Primrose Salon & Antiques

All photos courtesy of Pat Malone Photography.

Primrose Salon & Antiques may be Stafford’s most unique destination, and that’s saying something in a town filled with cool shops and historic landmarks. So, if you’re hitting the road for leaf-peeping this autumn, be sure to add Primrose to your itinerary. Half salon, half antique store — as the name implies — Primrose is the brainchild of Melissa Pradke, and once you get to know her, this intriguing combination of business ideas makes sense. 

You don’t often sit down in a salon chair expecting the bubbly blonde with the scissors to tell you she’s also a combat veteran, but her military service is a big part of who Pradke is. She’s an Army vet who did a tour in Iraq, but she’s also a Stafford native who always loved the old building on Lyons Road that her shop now calls home. “I wanted to bring something different to town,” says Pradke. So, one day she decided to knock on the door, and she talked the owner into renting the space to her. It took nine months of renovations, but in June 2023, Primrose Salon & Antiques finally opened its doors. 

Pradke is also an animal lover, which is why Patrick — her always well-behaved (as far as I can tell) standard poodle — is also a fixture at Primrose. Sadly, her horse doesn’t make many appearances at the shop. But, in my experience, local kids will often stop in to say hello, pet Patrick, and warm up during the winter. It’s an unusual hangout spot for local kids, but somehow, it just makes sense. 

Earlier this year, Pradke added another challenge to her plate; she took the Primrose show on the road. “I’ve been focused on the salon business until now,” says Pradke, who is finally turning her attention to the antiques side of things. In 2025, she loaded up her trailer and set up shop at Vintage Market Days around New England. She says the shows are a good way to move some of the bigger pieces in her shop and refresh her inventory more regularly.  

Even if you’re not into antiques and don’t need a haircut, you can stop by Primrose for a unique gift or a treat for yourself. From custom-made hats to tree ornaments to candles, there’s plenty to browse. Situated at the tip of Staffordville Reservoir in an adorable village, Primrose is removed from the hustle and bustle of tiny downtown Stafford, so you may have to go a little out of your way to find it, but it’s worth it. And soon, Pradke’s shop will be neighbors with The Big Heart Campus, which could make Staffordville a destination for a whole new group of seekers. 

So, when you hit the road this fall looking for charming New England villages to explore, skip Salem and head to Stafford to explore Primrose Salon & Antiques, and add some of our other local gems to your road trip itinerary.