Lexington antiques show that lasted 40 years ends this weekend
A longtime Lexington antiques shopping tradition is coming to an end this weekend, but a new one is expected to open soon.
Saturday and Sunday make for last weekend for the Athens Schoolhouse Antiques Show, which has operated out of the old Athens Elementary School building at 6270 Athens Walnut Hill Pike for 18 years.
The monthly antiques and vintage show’s operators said on their website and social media that this weekend’s show will be their last, because of renovations planned for the building.
“It’s This Weekend May 10-11. As renovations on the building will start soon we will all be making changes,” an announcement posted on the Athens Schoolhouse Antiques Facebook page states.
The statement, signed “The Rose and Kemper Family,” says the family is planning an online antiques shop, while their longtime vendors are going in several different directions, including one group of dealers who are starting The Lexington Antique Show at Athens, which will continue at the Athens school site in a part of the building not under renovation.
“Long time dealer Herman and Mag Ward specializing in primitives have relocated to Rags and Riches in Harrodsburg. Diane Mink has space in Thoroughbred Antique Gallery in Lexington. Some of our long time dealers are starting their own show The Lexington Antique Show of Athens,” the Facebook post states.
“Dealer Lenabell Harkins has retired and she had seven booths filled with fine furnishings. Her items are being offered for sale with Caswell Prewitt Auctions. Other dealers have their own social media platforms to sell from including Allison’s Garden and Gathered By The Handful. As for my family, we are taking a different direction. Rose House Antiques @antiqueskentucky.com will be up and coming offering an online site. Shop Antiques Online soon. We hope you will all continue to follow these small local businesses as we make these changes. Here’s To New Beginnings!”
The show has lasted 40 years.
Before becoming the Athens Schoolhouse Antiques Show, the event was held in a tobacco warehouse on Angliana Avenue, starting in 1985, according to the show’s website.
The last Athens schoolhouse Antiques Show is Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $2.
The Lexington Antique Show at Athens says their first show at the former school will be June 14 and 15.
“We will be open on the second weekend of each month, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 am to 5 pm.,” according to a post on the show’s Instagram account.
A restaurant, the Athens Lunchroom, also operates out of the building.
