Antique show draws a crowd

By John Appleton

05/16/2008- The Republican

BRIMFIELD - Hank G. Kozlowski was having second thoughts last week about whether to spend more than $700 on gasoline to haul his antiques from Georgia to the annual Brimfield Antique Show.

His truck was already packed, his fees for the Brimfield show were paid and Kozlowski was in Atlanta, Ga., working a show there, wondering if his annual trek to Brimfield would be profitable, given today's economic climate and gasoline prices.

But instead of returning from Atlanta to his shop in Florida, Kozlowski made the trip to Brimfield, and he said yesterday he was selling more than he has at past Brimfield shows.

"People are being a lot more careful in how they spend their money and what they will buy," Kozlowski said. "I lowered prices a little more than normal. It was OK because overall I made more money because I was willing to work with people."

The first week of the 2008 Brimfield Antique Show along Route 20 continues today, tomorrow and Sunday during daylight hours.

There has been some apprehension about whether the crowds would still come to the antique shows that liven the small town and slow down the Route 20 traffic.

Pamela E. Moriarty, one of the operators of Brimfield's Heart o' the Mart show, said the crowds were phenomenal during the sunshine since Tuesday and were not even cut down by yesterday's periods of rain.

"People came in droves and caused traffic jams," Moriarty said.

The May shows are traditionally the largest in Brimfield.

There will also be shows running from July 8 to 13 and Sept. 2 to 7.

Steve G. Harivel, a hotel lobby decorator from New York City, was hustling from dealer to dealer, buying light fixtures and other items from the 1920s to the 1940s which he will use in his business.

Harivel was not expecting bargains but brought an empty box truck to fill because the huge size of the Brimfield show means for him the opportunity to find many items he can use in his business all in one place in a few days.

Harivel was not surprised at the size of the crowds or the level of selling going on.

"The buying in these places is for luxury items," Harivel said. "If they wanted to save money, they would go and buy furniture at K-Mart or some place like that."