Purple Penguin Antiques and Collectibles is an eclectic mix.

When driving through downtown Casper, don't be surprised to see a 6-foot-tall wooden cigar store Indian standing on the corner of Midwest and Wolcott.

Inside, you will find custom signs in Old West or other historical styles, wall-mounted reproductions of old Casper postcards, sport memorabilia and barrels from one of the last barrel makers in the United States. The choices include antiques, replicas, artwork signs, jewelry and even personal care products.

Owners Dino and Karla Volpi are not new to the antique business. Before moving back to Casper, they ran a 4,000-square-foot antique store near Philadelphia.

Dino is currently finishing up classes at Casper College and soon will add a Web component to the business. Karla is IT director at the college.

"Purple Penguin will be one of the few (antique) stores in the state where you can order right online," he said. If an item doesn't sell in Casper, it will be offered on the Internet.

Volpi plans to search far and wide for antiques and collectibles, with an emphasis on smaller pieces. "You want it where they can pick it up, carry it and out the door they go," he said.

"What we're looking for is items Casper does not have."

Volpi is no stranger to the downtown business scene. During the 1980s energy boom, he ran a Philly steak and hoagie shop called Dino's.

The current store hours are Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volpi plans to expand the hours after completing his coursework in Web design. The Purple Penguin Web site is expected to be up in May.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574.