Last year, during the same period as the Greater York Antiques Show, Greg Mummert and his dealers at Antiques at Ivy Hall staged a Christmas Open House which was great fun and enjoyed by a good crowd of friends and dealers. At that time, Greg was still working on the upstairs of the building and piles of lumber were scattered about, waiting to become walls, shelves and cabinets for dealers to load with antiques.
This year the same gang decided to repeat the party, and the Christmas Open House was an even bigger success. Many dealers from the show went, as well as friends of the center, and the cash register rang most of the evening as guests carried away antiques large and small. Of special interest were the holiday decorations, and both Halloween and Christmas items found many buyers.
But equally as important, the second floor was finished, and every booth was taken. In addition to the open space in the booth, a cabinet with lights that could be locked was part of the arrangement. And access to the second floor was at the front of the shop, and also at the back, allowing for a complete circle of the booths without backtracking.
Renovations were finished just in time for the open house, as witnessed by a “paint may be sticky” sign that was attached to the banister at the rear. And it was sticky, but with a table loaded with refreshments and drink, plus the antiques, no one seemed to care.
