Antiques shop liquidation expected to draw big crowd

In just over a week, one of Greenfield's most enduring and well-known businesses will go to the auction block.

Red Ribbon Antiques, which opened its doors on Main Street in 1989, will open them one final time Sept. 6 to liquidate the inventory Gloria Holloway established over her 25-year business career.

Kyle Metcalfe, of Middletown-based Metcalfe Auctions LLC, will operate two auction rings, one under a tent outside the store at 101 W. Main St. and another inside the building, beginning at 10 a.m.

The entire store full of Victorian, antique and collectible furniture, artwork, glassware and china, including flow blue, Staffordshire, Limoges, Wedgewood and crystal glass, will be auctioned off, with many of the items being sold with no reserve, Metcalfe told the Daily Reporter.

With three stories of inventory to move, Metcalfe and his assistant are planning for the long haul.

"The second ring upstairs will be for artwork and smaller items," he said. "That could take three to four hours, depending on how fast things go. The first ring outside will be for the furniture and higher-end items, and we could be there until 6 p.m.," he said.

Though he has been working on his inventory list, Metcalfe said Wednesday he could not say precisely how many artifacts will be up for bid.

"I couldn't begin to tell you," he said. "There are 13 or 14 large display cases packed full of glass and jewelry items alone."

Perhaps equally impressive might be the crowd the auction attracts.

"I've already started getting calls, but two or three days before the sale, I'll just be buried under my phone," Metcalfe said.

"It could be a big crowd. That's why we took the extra step to rent a tent and secure the parking lot (immediately east of the store). We've done big stuff like this before. An estate sale drew around 400 people up in Muncie," he said.

City officials have approved the use of the public right of way adjacent to the Red Ribbon, and those attending the auction can park in the former Harvest Market food store lot on South Street west of the fire station, said city planning director Joanie Fitzwater.

"We want to help him with this thing," Fitzwater said.

In addition to those attending the event, bidders will also have the option to place absentee bids or participate over the telephone.

Absentee bidders can set a maximum bid ahead of time with the auction company that will be bid by proxy during the auction.

Telephone bidders will be contacted when bidding begins for their items, and they can relay their bids to a Metcalfe employee.

In both cases, advance arrangements must be made with the company, Metcalfe said.

For those interested in getting an advance look at some of the items that will be available, a preview session is being set at the store from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5.