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COFFMAN’S ANTIQUES MARKET TO CLOSE w/1 cut

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GREAT BARRINGTON, MASS. — After 19 years of successful business in the Berkshires, Coffman’s Antiques Market at the Jenifer House Commons will be closing on July 31.

Owners Don and Joyce Coffman have enjoyed a long and successful run with more than 100 dealers in the market at one time.

“Sudden and rapidly failing health has been the primary reasons we are closing,” cited Don Coffman. The Coffmans opened their market with 22 dealers in 1988 at The Buggy Whip Factory in Southfield, Mass., soon after their retirement and move to the Berkshires from New Jersey. They also purchased and ran The Red Bird Inn, a seven-room bed & breakfast in New Marlborough, Mass. Five years later, they moved to the Jenifer House Commons on Route 7 in Great Barrington with more than 50 dealers.

Soon after that, they doubled the size of their business by taking over an adjoining shop and increasing the size of the market to 100 dealers.

Several years later they also took over the newly rebuilt main Red Barn in the same complex and again increased the size of their operation.

About five years later, as the economy and the antiques business began a new focus, the Coffmans centralized their entire market into the original building, the Yellow House.

The Coffmans have enjoyed working with dealers in their market from all over the world. Their customers were also worldwide, with dealers, decorators, movie and theater set designers and a strong second-home Berkshires clientele.

Don and Joyce Coffman were both former educators in New Jersey and managed antiques shows in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for the past 28 years. The 25th Annual Antiques in August show on August 19, at North Hunterdon High School, Annandale, N.J., will be their personal last show, but will have the capable assistance of their son and daughter-in-law Philip and Marty Coffman.

The final month at Coffman’s will be one gigantic sale, not only of antiques, but many different sizes of showcases, computers, security and sound systems, video camera systems and much more.

The Coffmans are grateful for their highly dedicated and professional staff that has collectively run a first-class antiques market for 19 years. They are especially appreciative of the many years that their manager Lori Cesan gave to the business by handling all aspects of the day-to-day operations smoothly and professionally.

Don and Joyce wish to thank so very much their many friends, customers, dealers, and everyone who contributed to their successes.

The Coffman’s Antiques Market is on Stockbridge Road (Route 7). For information, coffmansantiques.com or 413-528-9282.