Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Antique Gallery moves, stays local

Still in Fayetteville, new location north of the square

After 15 years in the antiques business, Paul and Carole Smith are still on the move.

Their Antique Gallery and Hobby Shop has moved from the Fayetteville square, its home for the past three years, to Hudson Plaza at Ga. highways 85 and 92. A grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 18-20, with refreshments, door prizes and plenty of sales.

Paul and Carole left the real estate industry to try their hand at antiques in the 1980s, starting with a single booth. Before long, they were renting five.

Along the way Paul, with a varied background in construction, real estate and as an Air Force crew chief, learned enough about furniture and crank Victrola restoration and eventually become an appraiser.

The first few years of self-teaching were difficult but fun, according to the couple. Traveling to the Northeast to search for good antiques (and continually asking their sons to unload trucks), restoring furniture in the basement and bringing merchandise to antiques shows soon became their lifestyle. The full-family effort put their sons through school.

"Learning to price items not to overprice items was a valuable resource which we still enforce today," said the Smiths, adding that learning to "restore," and not just "refinish," put Paul in great demand with customers.

Customers always remark at the unusual combination of hobby shop and antique mall. According to Carole, it just sort of happened, as Paul's train hobby became a full-time interest.

The Smiths offer the community a wide selection of not only antiques, but also some new items. "Something for everyone is what we offer," according to the Smiths, adding that good prices are an important part of the shopping experience as well. Carole says that her dealers have "great merchandise at the best prices."

Paul oversees the hobby shop with a wealth of knowledge that frequently comes in handy to solve mechanical problems sometimes encountered with trains and remote-controlled vehicles. The new train layout is in development near the front door for all to view.

"We meet some great families in this hobby shop," said Carole. "It makes Paul and I feel proud to be Americans and restores our faith in the future of the family unit."

The Smiths presently rent to 15 local dealers who offer a wide selection of items from coins, crystal, linens, furniture, clocks, porcelain, old and new collectibles, and Carole's pride and joy sterling marcasite jewelry.

Antique Gallery offers many services such as consignment, appraisals, estate sale services and clock repair.

When asked for advice concerning estate sales, the Smiths' standard answer is, "Call a professional." The Antique Gallery staff spends more time searching through estate sale items because "most people just don't recognize the treasures," Carole said.

"The antiques supply has dwindled down over the past 10 years because of exports, and it would be a waste to lose our history through lack of knowledge," the owners added. "Antiques are valuable, especially American antiques."

While pointing out that it takes 100 years to qualify as an antique, Carole adds with a laugh, "When you visit the Antique Gallery, remember Paul and I are not antiques yet!"

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