TOOL CHEST COMES FULL CIRCLE

      It was a cold and windy Sunday in January, when Scott Garvie and his daughter decided to go antiquing. Being so cold outside, they decided to shop at the 15000 square foot Historic Burlington Antiques and Art Emporium in Burlington City, N.J.

     While going up and down the aisles, Scott and his daughter stepped  back in time, seeing vintage items from the 50s and the 60s, taking Scott back to his childhood. They viewed  items from the early 1900s and even items from the mid-1800s in the form of furniture, other items such as crackerjack toys from the early 1930s, early cameras from the turn of the century, machines from the 1800s as well as 1900s, coins from the 1800s and 1900s, early telephones, early advertising signs, and too many other items to list were all for sale.

     Walking up and down the aisles, Scott found an old carpenter’s  tool chest which bore his father’s initials, AG and the year 1953 carved on the top. He recognized it, sent a picture to his sister and then bought the toolbox. Talking to the dealer who was selling the tool chest, it turns out he purchased it at an auction in the area a few months ago. Scott’s sister was so excited about finding the tool chest, he decided to give it to her as a present.

     His family heirloom has now been returned to the family and will remain with the family for years to come. With 60+ dealers at the Emporium, you never know what you might find!

     Come and visit the Emporium, and “Happy Antiquing”!

                             THE SPECIAL MONTH OF FEBRUARY

       February 2024 is a special month this year; every four years an extra day is added to February and called a leap year. The 366th day is added to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical year or seasonal year. February is the most romantic month of the year, the shortest month of the year, is American Heart month, is African American History month, Groundhog Day, Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras, Presidents’ Day and the famous Valentine’s Day. Yes, February is a very active month. 

 Approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. Valentine greetings can be traced back to the Middle Ages.  During the middle of the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By 1900, printed cards began to replace written letters, due to improvements in printing technology and the cheaper postage rates.

    In honor of Valentine's Day, the Historic Burlington Antiques and Art Emporium, for the month of February, will continue the store-wide 20% off sale, for items over $20. (20% off with cash or check, 15% off with credit card) exceptions for the sale include jewelry, coins, and items marked firm or final sale. The Emporium display case will be filled with early valentines, candy dishes, vases, (for the roses) and items related to valentines. For all you romantics, the Emporium offers many items for his man cave and a large quantity of jewelry to add to her collection. The Emporium offers complimentary snacks to enhance your shopping experience. Open 6 days a week 11-5, closed on Monday (opened Thursday and Friday until 7pm), the Emporium is located at 424 High St., Burlington City, N.J. 08016 or phone 609-747-8333 for directions.

      “Happy Antiquing and have a fantastic Valentine's Day.”

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OUR STOREWIDE SALE HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY!

20% OFF ITEMS $20 OR MORE (CASH)

15% OFF ITEMS $20 OR MORE (CREDIT CARD)

(EXCEPTIONS: JEWELRY, COINS, ITEMS MARKED FIRM OR SALE - MOST DEALERS ARE PARTICIPATING)

TEDDY BEAR PICNIC    

     One of your first stuffed animals you receive as a baby is the famous teddy bear. They are fuzzy, they are cuddly, they are soft, they are cute, and they are definitely huggable. Sometimes you name them, sometimes you sleep with them, sometimes you have a tea party with them and sometimes drag them all around your house. At an early age, your bear becomes your friend, sometimes  you talk to them, they just listen and don’t talk back. As you get older, you start your own collection of bears. Someone once told me, “anything more than two items in the same category is considered a collection”. Thus, if you have more than two bears, you definitely have a collection going on.

     How did Teddy Bears become so popular? It all began when President Theodore Roosevelt was on a Bear hunting trip near Onwand, Mississippi on November 14, 1902. Mississippi’s governor who  invited him, but unlike other hunters in the group, Theodore had not located a single bear. One of Roosevelt’s assistant’s cornered and tied a black bear to a willow tree. They summoned Roosevelt and suggested that he shoot the bear. Viewing this as  extremely unsportsmanlike, Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear.

      Clifford Berryman, a political cartoonist decided to lightheartedly satirize the president’s refusal to shoot the bear. On November 16, 1902, Morris Michtorm, a Brooklynn candy shop owner, saw the cartoon and had an idea. He and his wife Rose also made stuffed animals and Michtorm decided to create a stuffed toy bear and dedicate it to the president who refused to shoot a bear. He called it, ‘Teddy’s Bear’.

     Michtorm mass produced the toy bears which were so popular that he soon found the Ideal Toy Company. To this day the teddy bear has worldwide popularity and its origin can be traced back to Theodore’s faithful hunting trip in 1902. In honor of ‘Teddy’s Bears’, the Emporium display case for the month of May will house teddy bears, and toy tea sets.

     The Emporium held its 15th Bi-Annual Antique Show and Garden Market on June 4th. Thank you for making the day a success! Without our customers, we would not be here enjoying the art of being antique dealers.

    “Happy Antiquing and hope to see you during the summer months”.

SPRING IS HERE !

           Each spring a group of Robin Red Breast fly from the south to my house. Each year the group seems to increase in size; I think they are the babies that have grown. Watching them interact with other birds, I feel they are very territorial protecting their turf. They don’t like other birds on my lawn. The other day  the Robins returned, and their leader of the flock came up and greeted me by tilting his head back and forth.  During  the summer I always give them a call when I see them in my yard. Thus, over the years they have learned to recognize me. While sitting in my kitchen the other day, the head Robin could see me  through the picture window and once again he tilted  his head back and forth to say hello. Through the years, their return has become my signal, that spring is just around the corner.

     In honor of spring, the Emporium display case for the month of April will be devoted to flowers and birds. Once again the Emporium courtyard is being filled with items to enhance your garden or patio. Presently, we have two very large bronze mermaids; one has been professionally reconstructed to be a fountain. Other objects include cement figures, a car grill, an outboard motor, a large amount of iron fencing, outdoor lanterns, a wooden ladder, original railroad items, including a refurbished, ten foot stop and go railroad signal (rewired).

     Through the spring and summer months, our dealers constantly keep placing new items in the courtyard. You never know what you will find in the Emporium courtyard. Our spring flowers will return sometime in April or May; call  609-747-8333 to see if the flowers have arrived. The Emporium spring Antique Show is in the process of being organized. Join us on June 4th for sales and fun. Call for a space, hurry - spaces are limited.

     The Emporium offers complimentary snacks to enhance your shopping experience. Open 6 days a week 11-5 , closed on Monday (open Thursday and Friday until 7pm), the Emporium is located at 424 High St., Burlington City, N.J. 08016 or phone 609-747-8333 for directions.

     “Happy Antiquing and Spring is here!”

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

EXTENDED HOURS HAVE NOW COME TO A CLOSE AND WE ARE BACK TO OUR REGULAR HOURS ! 11:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M.

WE WILL BE OPEN LATE ON THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS !

11 A.M. TO 7 P.M. CLOSED MONDAYS !

Thanks for your business

WE APPRECIATE OUR CUSTOMERS

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS !

In June 2001, the Historic Burlington Antiques and Art Emporium, in Burlington City, New Jersey, opened its doors for the first time. Scott Carlbon purchased the buildings between 418 and 426 High Street in 1998. The building which NOW houses the Antiques and Art Emporium, located at 424 High St., was constructed by Edward Super between 1915-1924 as one of the world’s first auto dealerships, according to the state's Sanborn Fire Insurance map, which is on the National Registry of Historic Buildings. In 1926, the Anderson Motors Company, a Chrysler Plymouth dealership, purchased Super's building where they sold and repaired automobiles until 1972. In 1998 many of Scott's family, friends and colleagues thought he was crazy to undertake this massive task of renovating a 15,000 sq ft condemned building with a close to 30' wooden arched truss ceiling. It took Carlbon two and half years to repair, refurbish, reinforce and replace the entire roof of this run-down, dilapidated, 14 thousand square foot arch and truss building. Years prior to his ownership, sections of the front buildings, the oldest tallest structures in the State, dating back to the late 1600s, were in dire need of extensive masonry work and new windows!

The Emporium is now home to more than 65 antiques and art dealers. With all the problems facing Carlbon, he had the foresight to see what this building and the historic City could become.

As a young boy, growing up on a farm in northern New Jersey, Scott learned to appreciate the value of recycling items; buying and selling antiques at local flea markets, while also learning about the construction and renovation of historic structures of all kinds including mills, barns and houses. Walking into 424 High Street for the first time, Scott looked up, saw a massive building reminded him of a giant old barn (or upside down ark as many visitors have described it), thinking what a beautiful space this could be to house an antique business, where small businesspeople wouldn't have to be there every day to keep their businesses afloat.

It took almost five years to completely finish the Emporium with dealers selling items from the 1700's to collectibles of today. The Emporium, an eclectic co-op, is a thriving source for movie, television, and restaurant set designers and decorators, collectors, and unique gift buyers from all over the State and country now. For the past fifteen years, the Emporium has received the distinction of being the Best Antique Shop/Art Gallery in the area by the readers of the Burlington County Times.

As years passed, the Emporium grew in size and activities offered to its customers. Approximately two years ago, Scott broke through a wall to one of the street-front buildings, adding an additional 1000 square feet to the co-op. On October 26, 2014, the Emporium ran their first bi-annual fall and spring Antique Shows. The Emporium ran its first live auction in November 2019. and then Covid19 hit.  Presently the Emporium is running an on-line only auction every other month (see Auction.Zip.Com, next auction Thursday, July 29th at 6:30pm).

In the large parking lot next to this historic structure, the Historic Burlington Antiques and Art Emporium would like to throw a great celebration in the fall with an Antique Show, music and food. Recently the New Jersey governor is slowly re-opening our state, which will decide the date of the celebration. Carlbon is glad to see Historic Burlington City thriving again, even despite the pandemic, and looking forward to seeing it become the destination place for diners and shoppers it is meant to be. If you would like future information about promotions and the future celebration, visit the Emporium or click “Join Our Mailing List” at the bottom on this page ! Be safe and Happy Antiquing!!!