Red Bank Antique Center celebrates 60 years of treasure hunting

By:  | August 10, 2024 |  Features |  Red Bank

By Maia Franco

Along the Navesink River stands a community with a great reputation of supporting artists, collectors, and small businesses. That community is Red Bank, and for all of its fun bars and restaurants, perhaps its most endearing feature is its abundance of antique shops, a micro-industry which manages to play a significant role in keeping Red Bank’s charm alive and well.

Starting with the opening of Red Bank Antique Center in 1964, the town has become a thriving hub for antique dealers and collectors. If you begin your shopping by walking along West Front Street near the Two River Theater and The Galleria, one can find thousands of antique items between these shops that can be yours, often for less than you would expect.

Antiques draw those who have an affinity for understanding the past. Stepping into Red Bank Antique Center feels like walking right into a warm and nostalgic past life. The floors of the building all boast a multitude of booths, each rented by a vendor with a different collection of items for sale. As one walks from booth to booth, vendors transport shoppers to different decades and different niches. A booth can host Victorian dolls, while the one next to it sells cameras from the 1960s. One of the most abundant items in the shop is glassware, with pint glasses, wine glasses, teacups, bowls, and more from throughout the 20th century. A book on the shelf of an antique store may have sat on someone else’s shelf 100 years ago, yet holds a story that can still be enjoyed today.

Guy Johnson has been running the Red Bank Antique Center for many years, following in the footsteps of his mother. After selling antiques at outdoor and seasonal flea markets, Guy’s mother, Nan, had the idea to create what she coined as a year-round, permanent antique show. “To our knowledge, this is the first antique mall in the country,” Guy remarked. “Before we had this space, antique collectors relied on the flea market season.” Not only did Guy inherit the business from his mother, but he has had the chance to keep antiquing in the family. Guy’s daughter, Kim Johnson-Katz, is now the general manager at the business.

The charming store has a number of permanent fixtures, each with their own story. One of the first things you can find when you walk in is a vintage funhouse mirror, gifted by a very famous, frequent customer. The mirror that reflects warped, elongated reflections was given to Guy by Debbie Harry, the lead singer of Blondie turned Red Bank local. “Debbie comes in every now and then, she really likes to wear vintage clothes and we have a wide variety.”

Another permanent resident is a Regina upright music box, built in 1896 in Rahway, NJ. It comes with a key, allowing the user to wind it up and play a song. This beautiful piece of vintage music came to Guy from a restaurant on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. It had been painted over so many times that he had to call in an expert to completely restore it by taking it apart and intricately stripping every single layer of paint. When asked if it was for sale, Guy joked, “Well no… unless someone makes me an offer I can’t refuse!”

Anthony Vanacore has been selling antiques since 2015, and has been selling in Red Bank since 2022. His interest in vintage clothing and accessories is lifelong, and he recalls wanting to dress in vintage wear as early as kindergarten. “Once I was old enough to start earning my own money, one of the first things I bought myself was a vintage watch I admired.” When getting into vintage collecting, Anthony was drawn to eyewear. He began restoring glasses from the 20th century, including pairs popularized by Elvis Presley and President Kennedy. Anthony’s glasses have been rented out by wardrobe departments on productions of period pieces. Today, they are available for sale on his eBay and Instagram pages.^[1]

At the Antique Center, Anthony sells vintage clothing that he no longer has a use for. “I was drawn to these pieces, but if I cannot flip them to fit me or someone in my life, I will sell them here.” In addition to his vintage clothing, Anthony sells t-shirts he designs. The use of social media has proven helpful in running an antique business. In the past, someone would have to seek out an item, but if it is posted on Instagram, shoppers know exactly where to find it. The Red Bank Antique Center has a page dedicated to featuring various booths.^[2]

The antique industry sees a variety of trends over time. In recent years, dealers have seen a large uptick in interest in vinyl records. New record players have become trendy, and many new albums are now becoming available in record form again. Antique dealers who have collected these records over time have been able to sell albums from the golden age of vinyl records, like Queen, The Beatles, and Tina Turner. For antique shoppers that do not have an interest in records, there are still many vendors catering to music lovers, selling band merchandise, posters, t-shirts, CDs, and more.

In addition to music, there has been an increase in furniture and kitchenware sales. Buyers have become very interested in furnishings that have brown wood, as these mid-century modern pieces have grown in popularity. Of these oak furnishings, dining sets have posed a large challenge to sell. “No one has dining rooms anymore,” Guy remarked, “We receive these dining room sets but new home buyers are not using dining rooms as much as they used to.” As far as collectibles, there are strong followings for original Pyrex glassware, coins, and vintage clothing. Christmas ornaments and Halloween decor sell very well, no matter the time of year!

Nestled conveniently for Jersey Shore visitors from New York and Pennsylvania, Red Bank is a gem for shoppers of vintage and new items alike. Red Bank Antique Center opened in 1964 and will celebrate its 60th birthday this year! Visit its 2 locations at 195 & 226 West Front Street, open from 11-5 Monday-Saturday and 12-5 on Sundays.