Brik Brak Antiques

Celebrating Christmas Open House

The second of the two huge Christmas Open House weekends in Cleveland, Tenn., is Brik Brak Antiques, located at 969 Euclid Ave. Brik Brak Antiques’s open house will begin on Thursday, Nov 11, 10-6, Friday, Nov. 12, 10-8, and Saturday, Nov., 13, 9-6. Owners Shane & Melissa Dotson and their daughter Sami Dotson said, “We will be serving refreshments all three days. There will be sales or 10% discounts throughout store, plus give aways, ticket drawings for gift cards, and hot chocolate and coffee.” 

You must earn your tickets for the drawings. Sami said to share it on Facebook, show up at store and make a purchase, and you will earn tickets for each to go in the drawing. Purchase $50 or more, and Sami will give you two more tickets. This is a good way to win some excellent gift cards. 

Brik Brak Antiques is full to the brim, even the recently opened upstairs. They have 6,000 square feet of floor space, and not an inch to spare with vendors waiting for booths to open. You’ll love a trip down memory lane with primitives, antiques, vintage, a little of Mid Century Modern, a little Victorian, and lots of country throughout. Every booth has a good variety, and each reflects a different era and style of the vendors there. This is one of those stores you have to come back often, or you’ll miss something you’ve longed to find. 

Sami manages the store and loves meeting all the new customers and enjoys the repeat customers. 

I’ve always said everyone has a story to tell, and Sami confirms that. She told us about a 95 years young customer who shared how his dad and grandfather helped to build South Lee Hwy. in Cleveland with pick axes and shovels. She said he still works repairing lawn mowers and mows, and several months back was in an accident where a tree fell on his vehicle and went through him, but his still alive and loving life. Another customer she said everyone calls “Dan the antique Man,” has been buying and selling antiques for over 30 years, and can tell you about any antique you find. Sami said she’d learned a lot from just listening and asking him questions. She said there’s a few customers that come in every couple of days; most of her out-of-town customers come on weekends. She said Saturdays are when she has lots of customers who tell her they found their store in the Busy Bee Trader, and made their plans to travel to Cleveland to see them. 

Like you and I, Shane and Melissa collect numerous items. Shane loves Lance Jars – cookie, cracker, just any he might find, and is watching for the very small crock jugs that were advertising items given with the crock ware. He has an eye for primitives, old farm equipment and tools. Melissa collects white ironstone and potato mashers. She takes a lot of those home, but I did spot a few pieces in the store. You’ll find lots of antique and vintage furniture, lots of smalls, and you’ll have fun going through containers of kitchen utensils and tools. The upstairs has furniture, brown crocks, tiny delicate pitchers, cups and saucers and an array of unique collectibles. Brik Brak Antiques has expanded upstairs, so be watching for their next expansion adjacent to their present buildings if you need a booth space. Now would be the time to get your name on the list. 

Be sure to visit Brik Brak Antiques for Christmas Open House on Nov. 11-13, and treat yourself to some unique finds and enjoy the refreshments!

By Maxine B Jones, Ocoee, Tennessee