“Invest in antiques,” says show manager Trisha A. McElroy, “they hold their value and they are wonderful to look at and use.” McElroy reported that one dealer at the first Concord N.H. Monthly Antiques Market †conducted on the second Sunday of the month †on November 9 †said, “I like to collect things that make me smile.” The show was at the Courtyard Marriott’s Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Avenue, as will be all future monthly shows.

McElroy admitted she was nervous to start a new show in this economy, but the dealers were eager to revive the “good old days” of Sarah French and Sundays at the Highway Hotel in Concord. “Well, the hotel may be gone, but the Grappone Conference Center is a big upgrade and the dealers loved the ‘back to basics’ attitude,” McElroy said. “There was no glitzy selling, no bright lights, just good antiques from dealers willing and eager to sell.”

Howard Graff of Colt Barn Antiques, Townsend, Vt., said, “[McElroy] did a great job in putting all this together and it will only grow. The show looked great, with great quality and good prices.”

Fifty-six dealers from as far as Atwater, Ohio, to as close as Hopkinton, N.H., came. Trading was brisk on the selling floor during setup and when the doors opened at 9 am, collectors and dealers came in to find quality antiques, some great prices and dealers willing to talk a deal.

McElroy said “There was more energy on the setup floor than she has seen in a long time. This is an easy-in easy-out show, open 9 am to 2 pm. I encouraged dealers to come prepared to buy, sell, trade.

“The dealers were great at helping to promote the show, and I gave half-price admission to all museum members and people from other organizations. All fire, police and military get in free, which is something I’ve done since 9/11. Our biggest buyer was a retired military woman.”

Some of the dealers who participated included Gary Promey, Atwater, Ohio; Hilary & Paulette Nolan, Falmouth, Mass.; Stephen-Douglas Antiques of Rockingham, Vt.; Melissa Bourque, Garrison, N.Y.; and Derik Pulito, Kensington, Conn.

New Hampshire dealers Hercules Pappachristos, from Derry, brought local fresh goodies; Anne Rowe Wilmot, garden items; Tommy Thompson of Keeper’s Antiques in Chichester and Richard Kenney, Portsmouth, not a regular to the show circuit, had formal to country and said they enjoyed doing the show.

Candlewick Antiques of Milford, N.H., sold a harvest table, and in December, Candlewick will be filled antique Christmas ornaments. Bill Gittes, Barrington, N.H., had some great items for sale from local estates; Russell Scheider, Merrimac, N.H., sold beautiful Oriental rugs and much more. Anne Piper of Keene, N.H., will exhibit December 14 with period silver and country stuff as well.

“I also had about 30 dealers who came to check us out the first time and all wanted to sign up for the next one. We will have a few new dealers every show, and the dealers will have fresh merchandise,” McElroy said.

The next show will be Sunday, December 14. There are no early buyers, everyone gets in at the same time. For more information, 603-778-8842 .