The spirit of enlivened culture, fueled by the combination of a rich heritage and thriving regional identity, not only serves as the cornerstone of the Nashville community, but is also celebrated in the turn-of-the-20th-century mercantile atmosphere of Antique Archaeology- the flesh-and-bone brainchild of American picker and collector Mike Wolfe.
Pulling onto Clinton Street takes any visitor from the modern bustle of downtown Nashville to the slow-paced charm of the old South. The aged red brick of the early 20th century Marathon Motor Works factory buildings sets the scene for the old-world convenient store intimacy of the shop, which houses everything from 19th century marionettes to vinyl scooter helmets manufactured in the 60’s.
“One of the things that [Mike] wanted to create in opening the second store here, being that we’re in a huge, historic building, was kind of like a vintage experience,” said Nashville store manager Lauren Wray Grisham. “So when you come in, we really laid out everything to be an all-encompassing experience.”
Antique Archaeology’s Nashville location is the second of two, the other standing in LeClaire, Iowa. Wolfe, who has done business in Nashville for years and who even has a second home in the area, built the second location in July of 2011 to serve as a southern boarding house for his eclectic collection of pickings.
“Our store is bigger than the one in Iowa,” says Grisham. “We use the awesome old building as part of our display. We have the capabilities here to hang stuff from the rafters, from the poles—every little piece is utilized.”
She’s not kidding. From the doorway onward, every square inch of the shop is home to one item or another. Vintage bicycles from various eras hang from ceiling panels and line the walls, cases of small trinkets are scattered across the room, light fixtures of all shapes, sizes and materials highlight the rafters and old neon signs work together with other miscellaneous treasures to cover the wooden columns—all of these to name a few.
“Iowa will always be the number one location, but I feel like we get the bigger stuff,” added Grisham.
Small-Town Feel in a Big-Time City
With the hit History Channel series “American Pickers” constantly gaining more viewers and generating a following of dedicated fans across America, Antique Archaeology’s Nashville space actually exists as a 21st century mercantile, with people from all corners of the United States coming to enjoy the all-encompassing vintage experience in the country music capital of America, many of them stopping to see the store as they pass through the city.
“I think that just being where we are on the map we get more visitors a day here [than the Iowa space],” said Grisham. “We’ve been really well received.”
Being a store designed to constantly cater to change, an authentic historical customer experience and an operation schedule that shifts around as often as the store’s merchandise, Antique Archaeology never experiences a dull moment—especially during delivery time. With weekend days that have been known to glean over 1,000 customers, the constant flow of items in and out of the store keeps the business incredibly successful and the staff equally busy.
“We’ll get the truck, we’ll unload it, hopefully—it makes it so much easier if—Mike’s here, and Mike and I literally get in the back and put [a sticker] on everything. But, 9 times out of 10, Mike’s not here, so this is where the fun begins. We literally text back and forth, picture, by picture, by picture, by picture,” Grisham said laughingly.
Having immersed himself in the antiques business for over 25 years, all it takes is the blink of an eye for Wolfe to gauge an item’s worth—which, of course, leads to blink-of-an-eye sales.
“[Everything] pretty much sells the minute we price it,” said Grisham. “Obviously on the higher priced items it will take a little bit longer, but we could never find enough stuff, which is an interesting problem to have. Mike’s on the road over half of the year stocking the store, but when you get up to 1,000 people a day on the weekends it’s just like, ‘Phew!’”
Naturally, being a store attached to a big-name T.V. series, customers come in looking for the full-package “American Pickers” experience. Many come in fully bent on finding a single item they saw picked on the show or to meet the American Picker (and only picker for the Nashville location) himself, Mike Wolfe.
With all of the store’s merchandise being one-of-a-kind and the three-month gap between the picked items being placed in store and being aired on an episode of “American Pickers,” there is no guarantee of stock.
“As soon as someone sees [an item] on the show it sells,” said Grisham. “If it wasn’t gone before because of the turn-around time on the shows.”
Wolfe spends half of the year on the road, but when he is on site he is very gracious and receptive to customers and will often spend time taking pictures with fans and talking with them about his finds and experiences. “He actually does come in a good bit as he has a house here now,” said Grisham. “So, when he’s in town he stops by. People love it.”
The Nashville location is not only heavily supported by fans of the show and history-lovers, it has also become a go-to prop house for Nashville’s entertainment community. “Being that Nashville’s more of an entertainment hub, especially with the T.V. show now and movies being filmed here, we’ve had a lot of people do prop rentals,” said Grisham.
One of the store’s most prominent prop credits is “Nashville,” with several of the shop’s items being lent out as set pieces. The shop has also lent out pieces to movie-related projects in Nashville, including Wolfe’s “not for sale” Indian motorcycle he has proudly displayed to the right of the store’s entrance.
The shop also boasts several pieces from past films, including the memorable “Gilley’s” sign from 80’s flick “Urban Cowboy.”
Individual Stories With More Stories To Tell
It’s not just the movie staples that make Wolfe’s antique collection intriguing. He has handpicked everything in the store and everything has its own story—one that Wolfe makes it a priority to know and tell.
“I know one of Mike’s purposes as a picker is not just the stuff, but also the people behind it, the people that he’s getting it from,” said Grisham.
One of Grisham’s favorite pieces in the store is a 20th century motorcycle club vest belonging to a Nashville club called the Cobras. Although the light blue denim is fading and the letters are beginning to peel, the vest’s story remains permanent and significant, leaving those who witness it basking in a ray of Nashville’s own history.
“This particular piece is called a club cut, and that was one that Mike bought,” said Grisham. “I thought the cool part about it is that our framer—she frames everything in our store over on 8th Avenue—she was working late at night framing it and she said she got the ‘heeby-jeebies.’
“It’s all about, in Mike’s eye, looking for the unique, the unusual, the stuff with a weird story. The stuff—like that vest—that does make you get the tingle when you see it. The selection in here really portrays that,” Grisham added. Mike also has his own private collection proudly displayed throughout the store.
“There are a few bigger items that are part of his private collection, because, being a picker, he’s often a collector too,” said Grisham. “You’ll notice there’s a theme in the ‘Not for sale’ items, like the motorcycle stuff, the early bicycle stuff, etc.”
The intermingling of cultures, generations and geographical identities among each of the store’s unique treasures creates an all-encompassing blast from the past—the customer is no longer simply learning about history, he or she is surrounded by it.
None of the store’s items are meant to be taken at face value. Seeing, touching or holding them should inspire wonder and curiosity. Wolfe’s purpose in creating this historical space is not only to generate revenue, but also to revive an interest in that which has been obsolete for decades.
“It’s really cool because there is such a broad age range of people who come in here interested in what we have,” said Dave, a staff member of Antique Archaeology. “We’ll get those who are very old and kids as young as 5 or 6 coming in with excitement and asking me questions like ‘What is this?’ or ‘What’s this do?’”
The force behind Antique Archaeology also believes in leaving history as it was—very minimal refurbishments or restorations are done prior to exhibition.
“We put [the merchandise] out with the bird crap, cobwebs, nests, rust, all that stuff,” Grisham said. “We’re definitely more into the rust and dust.”
Carved Willie Nelson clock
However, there is one aspect of the store that is heavily involved in restoration—well, Rustoration, to put it correctly.
Mike Wolfe and Nashville lighting designer Dave Phillips have begun teaming up on a mission to “rustore” all antiques—big, small, and obscure alike—into a light fixture, “shedding light on a fascinating past while illuminating the present,” according to the lighting line’s webpage.
“What we’re doing is taking old product and turning them into lights. We have a lighting designer, too—his name is Dave Phillips. He’s a friend of ours—he’s awesome. So we’re like ‘Here, David, here is a guitar. Can you make a light fixture out of it?’ And he will literally come and make this awesome thing,” Grisham said while pointing to one of the store’s displayed Rustoration light fixtures: an old sputnik light on a candelabra stand. Nashville’s store is the only Antique Archaeology location to sell light fixtures, and they have the ceiling rafters lined with original illuminatory creations to prove it.
“People have been really receptive to it. We literally can’t make them fast enough,” Grisham added.
Celebrating the Culture of Nashville
Along with a distinct appreciation for past culture comes a tried and true dedication to the rich and definitive culture of Nashville. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Mike’s vintage Indian bike vacates its corner to make room for Antique Archaeology’s own musical venue, the Pickin’ Corner. They even have Cheap Trick member Rick Nielson’s own guitar on personal hold for him whenever he stops by.
Raven Cliff
“We’re fortunate to have new music all the time as Nashville’s full of talent, and we have live music three days a week,” said Grisham. “I’d have to say my two personal faves are Raven Cliff and Nathan Griffin.”
When they aren’t providing friendly and informative service to their customers, the Antique Archaeology staff spends time enjoying their own Nashville experiences.
“I’ve lived in Nashville six years and have had a blast here,” said Grisham. “It’s hard not to love Nashville. I’m an East Nashville gal, but love going downtown to Robert’s on random nights. I also worked for Manuel for four years prior to Antique Archaeology and got to meet some of my idols, and even make clothes for them, which was pretty amazing. Plus, I feel like Nashville is just a dang friendly town… genuinely. It’s the best of both worlds –city with a small town feel. “
When he’s not treasure hunting, Dave loves to explore new areas and broaden his knowledge of places to be and things to do in Nashville.
“There’s a lot of history here. And the thing I really like about the South is, it just seems like people value that sort of history, whereas other places it’s like ‘tear it down and build a Walgreens.’ Sometimes here they’re more into preservation. Like this building. People here are really cool, and nice and friendly.”
Dave
With many of the store’s visitors being unfamiliar with the Nashville area, Antique Archaeology provides customers looking to gain the ultimate Nashville experience with a list full of places to visit, eat, drink and shop. They also have a list of other antique malls and shops on hand.
Gaining A One Of A Kind Nashville Experience
Whether you’re looking to enjoy some great culture, hear some incredible live music, talk to a group of knowledgeable, friendly people, experience history in a deeper, more meaningful way, or check another one-of-a-kind Nashville experience off your list, Antique Archaeology is the place to be. Who knows—you may even be able to snap a picture with Mike!
“The show has been successful on History, and we’re now filming the fifth season,” said Grisham. “Crazy to think it airs around the world. I don’t think anyone can plan or dream for this kind of popularity. We are definitely blessed! I think people really like the cast on the show (the Iowa crew has been friends for years, Mike and Frank since childhood), and most importantly, what the show’s about- recovering these old items and finding homes for them. We’re kind of like a pound for antiques!”
For upcoming events, postings on new shipments and items, and opportunities to implement your own treasures into the archaeological mix:
Check out Antique Archaeology’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/antiquearchaeologynashville?fref=ts&rf=100819640014836
Or their website: http://antiquearchaeology.com
~ by Katherine Foreman for The Nashville Experience
