Mineral Wells Index, Mineral Wells, TX

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September 25, 2011

Powells reflect after closing downtown's Anita's Antiques

Mineral Wells Index

Anita’s Antiques in downtown Mineral Wells, has closed its doors forever.

“It has been a great ride,” said owner Anita Powell. “We have met such wonderful people along the way. Our thanks to all of you for making Anita’s Antiques a success. "We have closed the store after 17 years at this one place. I can’t think of a better location to have been in business in. We have been in the antique business for 28 years in this area and it has been great.”

Buddy and Anita Powell, local artists and antique dealers, have spent the last 32 years of their lives in Mineral Wells. The city has been more than a home for the couple. It is a way of life and love. Buddy was with the City of Mineral Wells until his retirement 15 years ago. Since then he has been active helping Anita manage the antique store.

Being artists meant much travel. And they did. Anita went to many shows by herself. Buddy would go as he could. Sometimes he would catch up as time allowed. They traveled all over the state. “On the road” was what had to happen.

At a “sell out” show in a nearby town, they were asked if they would like to display paintings in a local antique mall.

Thinking about the hours and miles on the road, Anita said they would like to try it. The deal was, even though the paintings were nostalgic in content, there would have to be an offset of one antique to go with each piece of art.

No biggie for Anita. Just a couple of yard sales and an estate sale or two and she had her antiques. Now, you must remember that was 28 years ago, and before “Roadshow.”

The antiques sold fast. That was a good thing. So back to more yard sales. There was some great stuff, merchandise then. Good stuff. She would give a quarter for an old oil lamp and sell it for $5. Great turn over. The lamp would have been worth $35 to $100 She didn’t know. But she was finding out as she went. Antiquing was on the way.

The paintings in the antique stores sold well also. They always have.

Buddy and Anita painted a large picture of the Baker Hotel and have been blessed by the many sales of the prints of it.

At first they were in the Wynnwood Antique Mall in Mineral Wells as soon as it opened. Anita found the work of antiquing to be an adventure and she loved it. She was still doing art shows, auctions and sales. Later they moved into their own antique store down town. That was about 17 years ago.

The adventure of antiquing has been more special than Anita would have ever thought it could. Old “stuff” has always been a way of life for this couple.

New memories were made each day as old memories were shared. Love abounded. Hugs happened often.

At times Anita would be a short distance away from the customers and hear one say something like, “my Grandma had one of these.” And tell of the memories that it had stirred in their heart. Like the wire hook chicken catcher. Fishing lures were fun. Or the old non-electric curling iron and hair curlers. The kitchen items could bring a memory to a man or woman with a laugh and a tear.

Anita says she has swapped stories and memories with many, many people. She has laughed and cried with many of the people over things of the past or held hands and prayed about the right now happenings, too.

They have been asked about “what are you going to do when you get all closed?” That’s hard to answer. “I think I will take up skydiving,” Anita said jokingly – perhaps.

Anita says a big “thank you” to all the great people she has met and a “God bless and keep you all, ya’ll”.

She said it has been a “God thing from the start, and you all have helped make it happen.”

“It has been a wonderful time. Now it is time to go home. I have lost my building lease. No, I don’t own it. That’s OK. We are ready to hang it up anyway. We have sold it all to another person.”

If there were a way to say a bigger “thank you” to the wonderful people who made it all worthwhile, she would do it.

“We are home now,” she said. “So honk or holler as you go by. Or slow down a bit and we can remember together. God bless you and I miss you.”

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