End of an era: Owner closing Tallahassee antique store Vintage 21 after 50-year run
Almost 50 years ago, the Courtney family moved to Florida from Findlay, Ohio, with the idea already in mind to open a vintage resale shop.
Now, Barry Courtney, the sole family member still carrying on the dream, is expecting to close this chapter of his family’s legacy. Through his leadership, Vintage 21 continued to uphold the founding principle of authenticity through his interest in buying and reselling antiques that are hard to find anywhere else.
“We ended up in Atlantic Beach, because we had relatives there,” Courtney said, as he spoke with the Tallahassee Democrat amidst customers at his shop on a recent afternoon. “My brother came to school over here (in Tallahassee). We came to visit him, and that was it. We never looked back.”
The original location for Vintage 21, formerly known as Old Rose Boutique, was at the Parkway Shopping Center on Apalachee Parkway for eight years until Courtney’s brother, Bruce Courtney, moved to Las Vegas. Now, the store stands at its fourth location, a couple of miles away, at 1449 E. Lafayette St.
After receiving a contract from the landlords at Mahan Investments Inc. in January saying in the event that they sold the property, they would give Courtney a 30-day notice to clear the store, he signed it and began mentally preparing for when that day would come.
This was the first time he'd received a contract of this nature from the property owners. Instead of waiting for an official notice, he made the decision to start clearing his inventory to make closing arrangements.
He's not sure when he will lock the doors for the final time.
When he first moved to this building eight years ago, it was home to Video 21, a place where people could rent inexpensive movies and video games. The owner reserved a section in the front of the store for Courtney to rent and sell his antiques. This was before online streaming took over and changed the media industry. Courtney says sometimes customers still come in looking for the old video store, but still many are pleased to discover the items they can find at his shop.
He's launched a 40%-off sale to liquidate the extensive inventory filled with the hundreds of pieces he's acquired over the past eight years in an effort to sell as much as possible before the official close that he expects will be sooner rather than later.
The store is like an open treasure chest filled with a plethora of valuable items from antique jewelry, clothing, furniture and more. With a genuine love for vintage artifacts, Courtney has built his own personal collection of African masks, Chinese porcelains and American folk art, that he's not parting with.
“I can find things anywhere things are for sale,” Courtney said. “In fact, I pick things up that other people might put down. I sometimes cannot believe they don’t see what’s in front of them. But, that’s just the nature of the game.”
Loyal patrons are saddened to hear about the pending closure and are making their way to the shop where they mingle with new customers attracted to the sale sign posted out front.
Beverly Glazer, former owner of Nomads Art Gallery on North Monroe Street, who is also known as Beverly Luck, is a longtime friend and customer of Courtney.
“People who know Barry, and like what he offers, have followed him wherever he’s gone,” Glazer said. “At one time, he was even at the flea market. That was years and years ago. He rented space there. But many, many years ago he (had a store) with his mother on South Adams Street, fronting FAMU.”
Glazer recalls visiting that storefront and meeting Courtney’s mom, who had a fascination with vintage clothing. She says Courtney “got the bug” too and through the decades she’s continued to be a supporter. One of the most recent pieces Glazer picked up was an Indian artifact that resonated with her as she’s begun to take an interest in yoga.
“Barry’s got wonderful art from all over the world,” Glazer said as she explained that customers can ask him about artifacts from anywhere and he’ll be able to point out anything he carries from that country in the store and tell them about it.
Next year would have officially marked 50 years for Courtney’s run in the vintage sales business. While it can be difficult to let go of the routine that comes with being an entrepreneur, he said he is looking forward to the freedom that awaits at retirement’s doorstep.
"A lot of people say they're very sad I'm closing, because they come in a place like this and it's memories" Courtney said. "I'm probably the least sad of all of them, because I've done this for so long. I'll always be buying things for myself, but it's time to give up the business."
From 2016, on previous tenant: Coffee shop brews its last cup
A remembrance of Video 21 here: Netflix pushes stop on its DVD shipping. But wait, there's relief | Mark Hinson
Democrat Writer Mycah Brown can be reached at MJBrown@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee antique store Vintage 21, on Lafayette Street, to close
