Editorials

A Spectacular Christmas Celebration

Greenbriar Antique Merchants and Redbriar Antiques are the two exceptional stores I’m describing. Located at 6501 Slater Road, directly behind the Cracker Barrel in East Ridge. Owners Steve Watts and Luke Stewart invite you to join them and their vendors Saturday, Nov. 11 for a wonderful celebration of their Christmas Holiday Spectacular.

Steve, Luke and all the staff started weeks ago, bringing in fresh antiques, vintage furniture, accessories and smalls. They take extra time to stage each and every booth and gallery throughout both their stores, giving them a warm and inviting appeal with the upcoming holidays being the theme. There’s dozens of trees, each very different and beautiful. They’re all for sale, and they’re all different throughout each gallery space you shop. Whether you’re looking for rustic, Victorian, woodland, snow covered, colorful with vintage style lights, or toys, bows or antique smalls, you’re going to find trees for every room and theme you might have in mind.

Not only the awesome vendors add to their space décor and antiques, but Steve and Luke shop and treasure hunt for months in preparation for this Holiday Spectacular. This is not just a job for both of them, but a love for picking, buying, and selling, which started as their favorite past time when each were very young. Steve began picking with his grandfather when he was seven, and his dad taught him how to look, buy and sell, keeping in mind what those who he would take his selections to would be most interested. They both taught him how to look for what was highly collectible or valuable, and how the market changes. Steve has a very keen eye and quick to identify the period and style of furniture and many antique. He enjoys the big and bold or as he says “gaudy” furniture, especially period pieces with intricate designs and carvings in the wood.

Luke started out collecting and picking very young as well. Growing up in Mississippi, he enjoyed the antiques and collectibles his mother and grandmother often found. His mother still collects today and now exhibits her many treasures in her own Hull Museum in Pascagoula, Miss. Like Steve, Luke started treasure hunting with his favorite mentors and has acquired a lot of knowledge of antiques, glass, pottery and unusual smalls. He has a great eye for wonderful antiques and collectibles and all that complements them. I’ve heard he has quite a collection of ducks and beautiful colorful glass and pottery pieces. He is the conservative picker, always looking for what no one else has, and Steve always takes a trailer because he doesn’t want to leave behind anything huge or gaudy on their hunts. They both love to find old farm tools and industrial pieces. They just love to pick, buy, than stage it so you will be able to see how their pieces might look in your own home.

Steve and Luke and all the staff prepare lots of refreshments, with many samplings of cheeses, dips, veggies, and such served at Greenbriar, and then wonderful tasty desserts and a coffee bar awaits you across the parking lot perimeter at Redbriar Antiques. There will be lots of door prizes with different booths offering drawings for door prizes from individual booths, so you need to place your name in each drawing for items you’d like to win.

If the warm weather has delayed your Christmas mood, you will certainly leave Greenbriar Antique Merchants and Redbriar Antiques filled with the Christmas Spirit and humming your favorite Christmas carol as you load your new found treasures and gifts for you and those you love.

It’s just around the corner – The Christmas Holiday Spectacular, Saturday, Nov. 11, from 10 to 7. After this wonderful and fun-filled event, Steve, Luke and all their vendor elves will refill their booths for continued holiday shopping right on through December.

By Maxine B Jones, Ocoee, Tennessee