Antique shop to close after 20 years in southwest IL. Owner discounting lots of cool stuff
I received a phone call this week from James Heinemeier, 69, owner of J&P’s Edelweiss in Alton.
Heinemeier told me that he’s getting ready to retire and closing the shop at the end of October, after 20 years in business.
So, thinking it’s been a while since one of my on-the-road reporting expeditions, I made the trek to speak with Heinemeier in person. (Plus I really wanted to see the shop.)
Located at 435 E. Broadway in what used to be Alton Tire Sales Co. (It’s on the building’s facade – kinda hard to miss.), J&P’s Edelweiss is a treasure trove where a person (like me) can spend hours looking through all that great stuff.
(And I nearly did but, you know, work. Fine, I did look around some. OK, more than some. I’m planning to go back again soon. Anyway …)
Heinemeier has operated his business at its present location since he purchased the building in February 2002.
He started in the antiques business in 1990 by opening a booth in Debbie’s Decorative Antiques. From there, he moved on to the Alton Exchange, then to Mineral Springs Mall.
Heinemeier increased his inventory with finds from farm and estate auctions. He said going to such events taught him a lot about how to bid wisely and to maintain a more businesslike attitude.
With more items came the need for more space.
So he opened J&P’s Edelweiss. (He’s the “J,” his wife, Pat, the “P.”)
Heinemeier said in the beginning, the ladies who worked in the shop helped him anchor the business. In addition to taking care of the counter and the customers, the only thing he required was that they each price 28 items a day.
As I spoke with Heinemeier, he mentioned folks (he gave only first names – Pollyann, Shirley, Joann, Sherry, Betsy, Josh and Red) who worked for him over the years and acknowledged how much they helped him anchor the business.
His stepdaughter Stephanie worked in the shop on weekends when she was a student. Heinemeier said her help allowed him to attend more auctions and accumulate more items for the shop. He also credits her with setting up a system to organize the shop.
(Like items are grouped together, such as the group of coffee grinders I noticed on one countertop. Whenever I saw a stray grinder elsewhere in the shop, I had to resist the urge to move it back with the others.)
He says about 90% of his inventory (his current estimate is around 20,000 items) came from auctions and similar sources.
“I always said the buyer should have been fired,” said Heinemeier. “We’ve got a chore ahead of us.”
Now he’s doing his best to sell as many items as possible before closing. And he’s offering discounts on all tagged items to help do it.
All tagged items have been 20% off the marked price since February. (If it’s not tagged, check with Heinemeier, and he’ll name a price.)
In April the discount will be 25%, then 30% in May and finally 35% in June. By then he will ramp up taking items out of the shop for the auction block. He’s already moving some items on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Heinemeier said the discounts are also a way of “trying to pay back customers from over the years.”
He doesn’t recommend waiting for the bigger discounts because the items you want may not be there when you come back. (Fingers crossed that old “The Empire Strikes Back” lunchbox is still there when I go back.)
I had the opportunity to roam around the shop and explore whenever Heinemeier was helping customers or talking to visitors other than myself.
Let me say that at first glance, venturing through the place can be a tad daunting. It’s best to get over that and go all in. I saw some pretty great stuff and thought that it was good that I left my checkbook at home.
In addition to the aforementioned coffee grinders, there was a Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox just like the one I had in first grade (tempting!), a really nice wooden Anheuser Märzen Beer crate, old telephones, cameras and cast iron pans.
I turned one corner and hit the motherload! Crocks! Not always easy to find.
Glassware (in multiple colors), clothing, tools, some furniture and lamps, vintage postcards and old photos, vinyl, toys.
You name it, you’ll probably find it.
And once the building is empty, that’s it.
Heinemeier previously sold the building in October 2018 and said he remains at the site on a lease.
A few months after selling, he purchased another building a few doors down at 401 E. Broadway, the location of Country Meadows Antiques. He sold that property in April 2021.
So he’s in good shape for retirement, which he’s looking forward to and will get to spend more time with his granddaughters.
For now, make your way to J&P’s Edelweiss. Pick a day with good weather and enjoy the drive if you aren’t already nearby. Happy hunting!
All transactions are cash or check (with valid ID) only. No plastic, but Heinemeier said there’s an ATM across the street.
J&P’s Edelweiss is located at 435 E. Broadway in Alton. Hours are 11 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. For more information, call 618-741-8749.
