At first glance, a sea of antique odds and ends might seem unassuming. But in perusing the selection of collectibles, family heirlooms and potentially anything else under the sun, there’s the chance of finding something old yet new, breathing life into the past while cracking a smile in the present.
“This is a treasure hunt,” said Wes Taylor, the manager at Williamsburg Antique Mall. The institution is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend with an array of attractions, including food trucks, frequent giveaways and more.
For Taylor, that’s in line with what the business has valued all along. It’s not about the money.
“It wasn’t about that. We’re not trying to celebrate this weekend just to sell,” he said. “It’s more of an event than a sale. Any business that makes it to 20 years is a pretty big milestone.”
It still about the people, whether that’s the 300 dealers who set up shop within the mall or the customers awed by the surprising scale of the place.
“People come in here and it’s fun to watch,” Taylor said.
That includes seeing people hit with waves of nostalgia, lighting up at the sight of old “Star Wars” toys or a piece of furniture that sparks a memory of summer afternoons at grandma’s house.
That’s part of the reason Bob Engasser was inside the mall Monday afternoon, perusing steins, or German beer mugs.
“I like coming in here,” he said. “It’s nice to have a variety of things.”
Every other year, Engasser and his family travel from upstate New York to visit Williamsburg. The mall provides a welcome relief from the heat and crowds at Busch Gardens, where his family was for a second day in a row while he browsed the shop.
“I’ll spend three hours here,” he said.
Engasser’s interest in steins stemmed from his grandparents’ German roots; his collection of over 250 steins is a nod to that heritage. He didn’t find any steins worth buying at the mall this year, but he ended up walking away with a surprise find: a salt-glazed stoneware pitcher.
Evolving, yet constant
Engasser wondered how modernity, with the rise of the Internet and so many new outlets vying for everyone’s attention, has affected the antique mall.
“That’s got to be good and bad for this kind of thing,” he said.
Taylor sees it as an opportunity, a way to raise awareness and simplify the process for customers.
“Malls all over the country are closing. We’ve had to modernize,” Taylor said. “Luckily, you can’t go online and find what we have, for the most part.”
In an effort to keep up with the time, his team upgraded the mall’s website, they’re active on Facebook and Twitter and they post pictures of dealers’ wares on Pinterest. The mall also began shipping worldwide, a response to the number of tourists in Williamsburg who can’t pack many purchases in the car or stow them away on a flight.
The dealers and their products remain the focus, with old records, Snowbabies, Christmas decorations, jewelry, coins.
“You can look at booths and see someone’s personality,” Taylor said.
About 40 of the original dealers from 1997 continue to operate in the mall.
“I think that’s pretty phenomenal,” said Nancy Donnelly, the mall’s administrative assistant. She’s worked there since its inception, and she’s confident that the magic remains. “It’s pretty much true to how it started out.”
The mall features a reminder of the passage of time: the Ann Saunders Ragland Memorial Lounge, named after one of the original dealers who passed away from cancer earlier this year. Now, it’s the site of a welcome respite, where those tired of browsing can sit and relax while a spouse or parent continues scanning the aisles. For Taylor, it serves as a reminder for everyone that the antique mall is not a regular store.
“It’s like a family,” he said.
For this weekend’s celebration, he solicited dealers for door prizes; they offered so many that there will be auctions about every ten minutes. Winners will be able to choose between different options, from books to glassware, depending on their interests. Two Drummers BBQ will serve food from their truck Saturday, and Food-A-Tude will offer more Sunday. Several local radio stations will supply music, and classic cars will be on display. Some items are also discounted until July 20.
“We’re going to have a blast,” Taylor said.
Birkenmeyer can be reached by phone at 757-790-3029.
Want to go?
The Williamsburg Antique Mall 20th anniversary celebration runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the mall’s location, 500 Lightfoot Road.
