THE ANTIQUE MALL EXPLOSION

Antique malls as we know them today are the fastest growing segment in the entire retail field in America. Statistically, there are more than 3,500 of them operating across the country. And new ones open their doors each day.

Housed under every imaginable type of roof, from restored train stations and rehabbed discount store buildings, to shiny, newly built facilities, the antique mall explosion has reached a city or town near just about every American, today.

The origin of the antique mall is really evolutionary beginning with the cultural renaissance that took place in the 1960's. It was a time when we were drawn through art, music and literature to take a long look at ourselves as a society; to rediscover and in some ways, revisit, our roots.

It was during these years, that more and more people began to take a serious interest in learning about their heritage. Genealogy became a huge pastime that consumed a society thirsting to get in touch with it's past.

The frantic pace of the world and the pressures that seemed to be turning us into faceless statistics in the landscape, drove of us to search for reminders of slower, simpler times.

The nation's avid craving for collecting, a reflection of our continuing need for reminders of bygone times, began to accelerate in the 1980's. And, driven by the sheer volume of interest, more shops were joined by wonderful and exciting antique shows that brought yet more and more antiques out of attics and other dusty hiding places.

Pure antiques (generally considered items more than one hundred years old) were joined by more contemporary but equally nostalgic collectibles, becoming a passion for thousands of people. People who discovered joy in them by being touched, in a material way, by bits and pieces of their youth and of bygone eras.

The concept of multi dealer malls is nothing more than an exciting and wonderful outgrowth of the depth of commitment society has made to preserving our past and those reminders of days gone by, for our children.

Like early day explorers, malls began to spring up here and there during the 1980's. By the late years of the decade, the pioneers of the antique world who followed, had begun to spread out and settle in larger numbers.

Then enter the 1990's and with it, the explosion that has brought the antique mall trend into mainstream American retailing .

The mall concept is a tremendous but simple one. A central cash register area provides the shopping convenience found in any department store or discount house. Combine that with booths rented by individual antique dealers and you have the variety of an antique show with the advantage of the daily accessibility you would find in any other retail business.

Shopping in an antique mall is treasure hunting at its finest. Week after week, dealers bring in new and different merchandise. The scene is one of constant change as antiques are continually being bought and sold. This constant flux adds to the 'thrill of the hunt'. There is sheer joy in not knowing what you might find just around the next corner in any antique mall in America. Every trip to a mall is an adventure to see "what's here today?"

By numbers, the Midwest leads the rest of the country, with the most multi dealer malls. The South and West Coast don't trail far behind, however. In the Eastern U.S. where tradition generally rules over trend, more malls have begun to flourish in the past five years.

Any discussion of the East Coast and 'antiquing' must include a special word about the state of Pennsylvania. Rich in history and a long time Mecca for antique dealers and collectors, the state plays host to dozens of fantastic, nationally followed, antique shows and has been, for some time, a haven of antique malls.

As more and more buyers hunger for these fabulous treasure centers the trend toward them seems to be becoming more entrenched.

Is there a bottom to them? Will they peak? Probably. For if we have learned anything from history it is that there is nothing so constant as change.

But today, in the 2,000's, collecting has become 'big business'. Some people invest in antiques and collectibles just as they would stocks, bonds, or precious metals. Clubs and associations for enthusiastic collectors in every imaginable field of interest are flourishing. Many fine, collecting related, periodicals are available on the newsstand that educate and keep the public up to date on the market. In addition, there are hundreds of price guides and books to feed an ever growing and hungry world of people with more than a passing interest in antiques and memorabilia.

One thing is certain, shopping in an antique mall is always a unique experience and every shopper is sure to find sometime of interest. It doesn't matter if you are looking for something to decorate your home with, something to add to your particular collection, or simply looking for the enjoyment of finding an item that will touch a special cord in you. Antique malls are here to enjoy and enjoy them we will!

Here's to happy shopping,

Georgia Goodridge