The Philadelphia Antiques Show will move to the Cruise Terminal at Pier 1 at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard in 2008. The fair’s 56 exhibitors were informed of the decision just prior to the HUP show’s closing on April 17, 2007, at the 33rd Street Armory in Philadelphia.
“Yes, it is true. The Philadelphia Antiques Show will be here in 2008,” said Michael A. Carson of Liberty Belle. Exclusive caterers for the Cruise Terminal, Liberty Belle is also in charge of booking the facility. Liberty Belle’s menus are prepared by executive chef Joseph A. Garvey, formerly of the Brick Hotel in Newtown, Bucks County, Penn.
Carson confirmed that the Philadelphia Antiques Show had signed a multiyear contract for the facility. Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation is in charge of Navy Yard leasing and development.
“PIDC has been approached by other vendors but to my knowledge is not interested in having another show here concurrently,” Carson acknowledged.
Last week, a new 80-by-100-foot unobstructed structure could be seen going up adjacent to the far end of the Cruise Terminal, alongside the waterfront.
“It is temporary and is going up for cruise season,” said Carson, who declined to speculate on whether the structure would also be used by the Philadelphia Antiques Show.
“We are, of course, sad that after 46 years we will no longer be at the 33rd Street Armory, but we are moving the show, not reinventing it,” said show manager Josh Wainwright of Keeling-Wainwright Associates.
Wainwright added, “We will have our same dealer cadre. The Navy Pier venue is approximately the same size as the 33rd Street Armory. Our dealers are very excited about the move. The venue is right off of I-95 and has lots of parking. We will run shuttles continuously to the 30th Street train station. Navy Pier is 12 minutes from downtown Philadelphia.”
HUP organizers said they planned to continue offering a variety of special events.
“We expect to continue hosting the ADA Award of Merit dinner in conjunction with the Philadelphia Antiques Show,” said ADA President John Keith Russell. Traditionally, the Saturday night awards dinner follows an opening night dinner, organized by the show committee and benefiting the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
The Philadelphia Antiques Show was forced to find a new venue after Drexel University announced that it was converting the 33rd Street Armory into an indoor athletic facility.
The 2008 show will open with a gala preview on Friday, April 11, and continue through April 15. The 2008 loan show, organized by Craig Bruns of Independence Seaport Museum, will explore the city’s maritime history.
For the past two years, the Cruise Terminal has been home to Antiques at Navy Pier, the 70-exhibitor show organized by Barry Cohen of b4rTime and Jim Burk of Jim Burk Antiques Shows.
“If what I hear is true, I am very sorry not to be returning to Navy Pier. However, we expect to be back in Philadelphia,” Barry Cohen said Monday.
“We’re booked at the 23rd Street Armory for next year,” says Frank Gaglio of Barn Star Productions. Gaglio organizes the Original 23rd Street Armory Antiques Show, which has 43 exhibitors.
