
Consignment Classics in the Midway area is a feast of antiques and collectibles.
There are about 100 private dealers renting space in the 40,000-square-foot outlet at 3602 Kurtz St., which has everything from furniture and jewelry to art, glass and photo framing.
A companion store at 1895 Hancock St. carries mostly home furnishings.
“We’ve got three or four things going on here,” said business co-owner Frank Simpson. “We’ve got dealers who rent space as an antique and collectible mall. We have a little bit of stuff on consignment that we take in. We’ve got a rug guy, lamps, art and mirrors.”
Of his dealers, Simpson said, “They do this as a business. A lot of the people have been collecting, and now they want to get rid of it.”
Consignment is an arrangement in which goods are left in the possession of an authorized third party to sell. Typically, the consignor receives a percentage of the revenue from the sale in the form of a commission.
“Weekends are very busy,” noted Simpson of his Kurtz Street location. “Most of this building is dealers with products to sell. We’ve only been doing this a little over a year. It used to be consignment only.”
Simpson said Consignment Classics has also partnered up with a busy estate sales group.
A lot of displaced antique dealers, previously on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, now make their home at Consignment Classics.
Who comes to Consignment Classics and what are they looking for?
“People who collect things, like dolls,” answered Simpson. “Or people looking for gifts, like something for a kid going to college.”
A fun business to be in?
“I enjoy it, I’ve been doing this for about 17 years,” replied Simpson, noting he purchased the already-established consignment store when he had a mirror and glass business. He knew the consignment business owner and purchased the business when it became available.
“We’re the biggest in San Diego County for sure,” said Simpson adding there are a couple dozen consignment stores locally. “We may even be the biggest in the state.”
The consignment business is somewhat seasonal. Summers are slow, said Simpson, pointing out business picks up in the fall until Thanksgiving. Demand for furniture drops off at year’s end around Christmas but shoppers looking for gifts picks up. “It picks up again mid- to late January,” Simpson said.
Looking around, there are literally thousands of pieces of individual items of all types.
“And it changes just constantly,” noted Simpson who talked about the most recent trend in antiques.
“Right now the hot thing of value is older Chinese vases, plates and art,” he said. Consignment Classics
Where: 3602 Kurtz St., 1895 Hancock St.
Contact: consignmentclassics.net, 619-291-3000, 619-491-0700.
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