Knotty Pine, one of New England’s oldest and most respected antiques markets, will close its doors on May 18. The group shop, which shares space with the Gallery at Knotty Pine auction house on Route 10 here, was opened in 1960 by Stephen and Joan Pappas. Auctions were started by their sons, Michael and John, about 13 years ago and are now conducted by John, assisted by Paul Gorzocoski III.
At one time, the shop offered merchandise from some 450 dealers, according to John Pappas, but market dynamics have changed over the years, and currently there are about 175 booths.
The auction business is growing, he said, while the group shop business is declining, and over the past half dozen years, auctions conducted in the half of the 20,000-square-foot building devoted to that activity have grown to 40‵0 per year. Two galleries currently comprise the auction facilities †a 6,000-square-foot, air-conditioned gallery where the firm conducts its monthly antique and specialty auctions, and the 3,000-square-foot air-conditioned annex gallery where it conducts weekly general antique and estate auctions. “The auction activities have grown at a rapid pace since we opened the second gallery about four years ago,” explained John Pappas.
After May 18, he will be utilizing some 7,000 to 8,000 square feet now being used for the group shop. “Our warehouse is about fiveix miles away, so it will be more convenient,” said John with regard to unloading and staging material for the auctions.
Although Joan Pappas is “retiring,” she will still be involved with the auction gallery, said John. “I’ve passed the torch,” said Joan.
As part of her “retirement sale,” she and her cadre of dealers will be marking down their merchandise by some 30‵0 percent between April 15 and May 18. For more information, 603-352-2313 or www.knottypineantiques.com .
