Beloved Florida antique store to close after 50 years - but not before an epic sale
Vintage 21, a Tallahassee staple, is going out of business after a 50-year run of selling antiques - but not before launching a fire sale to clear its inventory.
The Courtney family that left Findlay, Ohio, almost five decades ago dreaming about opening a vintage resale shop. It was originally called Old Rose Boutique.
Barry Courtney is the only one left after his brother Bruce moved to Las Vegas. But now he has been forced to thrown in the towel - but only after the building owner said it was being sold.
'We ended up in Atlantic Beach, because we had relatives there,' Courtney told the Tallahassee Democrat.
'My brother came to school over here (in Tallahassee). We came to visit him, and that was it. We never looked back.'
Barry Courtney has run Vintage 21 in Tallahassee, Florida for 50 years
Vintage 21 has been a popular store for antiques in Tallahassee, Florida
His landlords sent him a contract back in January stating that if they sold the property, he'd have 30 days to clear the store.
Instead of waiting around for a notice to come, Courtney has decided that he's going to shutter his family-owned shop on his own terms.
This means he's been working to clear inventory so he can properly shut down.
He's still not sure exactly when business will truly come to an end.
For now, Vintage 21 is doing a 40 percent off sale to clear the shelves of the hundreds of unique antiques and art pieces he's acquired over the last eight years.
For Courtney, these items are as close to treasure as you can get. The store is still brimming antique jewelry, clothing, furniture and much more.
He's even amassed his own personal collection of African masks, Chinese porcelains and American folk art that he won't be selling.
'I can find things anywhere things are for sale,' Courtney said.
'In fact, I pick things up that other people might put down. I sometimes cannot believe they don't see what's in front of them. But, that's just the nature of the game.'
Longtime customers took to Reddit to share their thoughts on the antique shop closing.
'That's a shame, I hate to see smaller businesses being bought out. And this store especially has some awesome stuff! I found Christmas presents for a few family members here this past year,' one user wrote.
Another commented that Courtney was 'always so nice and personable when I went in.'
Beverly Glazer, who used to own nearby Nomads Art Gallery, is a close friend and customer of Courtney.
'People who know Barry, and like what he offers, have followed him wherever he's gone,' Glazer told the Tallahassee Democrat.
Vintage 21, a Tallahassee staple, is closing down after 50 years
'At one time, he was even at the flea market. That was years and years ago. He rented space there.
'Barry's got wonderful art from all over the world,' she added, explaining that he loves to explain the origins of pieces he's acquired to customers.
Next year would have been 50 years for Courtney in the business of selling artifacts and vintage pieces, and although he's sad to let go of something he's been doing for that long, he's also welcoming retirement.
'A lot of people say they're very sad I'm closing, because they come in a place like this and it's memories' Courtney said.
'I'm probably the least sad of all of them, because I've done this for so long. I'll always be buying things for myself, but it's time to give up the business.'
