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Community Corner

Find the Diamonds in the Rough: Try Antiquing

Red Bank offers a lot of options in easy walking distance of one another.

Antiquing brings out several different types of shoppers, each with his or her own reasons for checking out various wares.

Some do it for nostalgia’s sake, perhaps seeking items they might have owned as children. Some appreciate the quality and care that was put into making older products, when manufacturing and craft went hand-in-hand. Still others might be engaged in strictly speculative ways, searching for those special “buy low, sell high” investments.

The corner of Bridge Avenue and West Front Street in Red Bank could be considered a treasure-trove for antique hunters. With five separate units in such a compressed area, it might be impossible to walk away without seeing something of interest.

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In one building there are examples of Japanese silk art, while in another colored glassware and delicate Christmas ornaments immediately grab the eye. In yet another, Wizard of Oz memorabilia and a Howdy Doody marionette sit next to a record disc tantalizingly titled as product from the Edison Company.

It is a tour through the past, aisle by aisle, and a chance to see things you'd never expect (or never thought you’d see again). These are reasons why we’ve selected the Red Bank antiques district for this installment of Day Tripper, a weekly look at destinations that are out of town but within reach, and worth the trip.

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 But be warned. Bring the station wagon; you might need it.

DAY TRIPPER DIGEST 

Estimated Travel Time: 1 hour, 22 minutes

Why it's Worth the Trip: There are many other things you can do in Red Bank, but the shops that make up Antiques Row offer the maximum amount of treasure-hunting within an easy walking distance.

How to Get There From Here: Detailed driving directions.

You'll Probably Get Hungry: The antiques shops are virtually next to the  on Bridge Avenue, which houses  (a Thai restaurant), and , featuring a fondue-centered menu. There’s also the more traditional , and for those looking for much more casual flavors, a satellite of the shoreline favorite  is also available.

While You're in the Area: For those who want to make a day of their visit, downtown Red Bank offers attractions as well, including, long a staple of downtown Red Bank. There are three theaters, (highlighting the latest in Indie-oriented film), the  () and the .

Guy Johnson, manager of , said one of the biggest draws to the area is the variety of things that can be found.

“We sell a little bit of everything here," he said. "We have a lot of collectibles, like Lionel trains, jewelry, fine art, antique toys.”

One of the oldest items currently on-site, Johnson said, is a music box dated to somewhere between 1894 and 1896: “It still works, and it is beautiful."

A notable sale for the Antiques Center involved a painting of Native Americans by artist John Mix Stanley (1814-1872). His work involving portraits, landscapes and Native American life is highly sought after and, because of that rarity, Johnson was able to sell a piece for $350,000.

People won't find many sewing machines, particularly models by Singer. There are far too many on the market to be of interest.

“We try to sell them, but nobody wants to buy them,” Johnson said.

After all, in the antiques field, scarcity is as important as condition. 

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