Potential customers from the St. Louis region can't seem to find Fellenz Antiques, 439 N. Euclid, even when they're standing right in front of it. When I suggested to proprietor Bill Fellenz, above, that a sign would help, he shuffled the deck of cards he keeps handy for games of solitaire, paused and said, "It's in the window." See if you can find it.
No fax, no internet (the last person who tried to sell him the service got a typical Fellenz reply: "We've (late father and son) gone 62 years without anything but a telephone and I'll probably go the rest of the way, the same way." Antiques dealers from as far as New Orleans and Texas have been doing business with Fellenz Antiques for years by telephone only (same number for 62 years too). "If someone wants to find me they will," he said.
Bill Fellenz's father started the architectural artifact business in Gaslight Square 62 years ago (before there was a Gaslight Square), moved the shop to McPherson for a couple of years, and finally settled on Euclid in 1961. With the recent closure of The Majestic, Fellenz is the oldest business in the CWE, according to Bill.
Early last Saturday morning, as we were setting up the CWE Flea on the parking lot next to Fellenz, we noticed hundreds of old doors being loaded onto a truck. When I stopped by the store yesterday to learn more about what was going on, Bill explained that 600 doors were being transported to New Orleans, where four dealers he's worked with for 40-plus years are located. Those dealers in turn sell the doors throughout the south, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, etc. Bill estimates he's sent almost 100,000 doors to New Orleans over the years. At one time it was 2700 in a one-week period!
For years I've seen "pickers" carry doors to Fellenz in grocery carts, and assumed most of his stock came from nearby houses that are in disrepair or undergoing renovation (whether the homeowners know it or not). "Not so," Bill said. He travels throughout Illinois and other midwestern states to scout for merchandise…"it's a revolving door," he added dryly. In a couple of weeks, Bill's headed back to New Orleans with another stash of doors. Some will be dropped off in Jackson, Mississippi, and some will travel on to Texas. (I almost didn't want to ask why Bill is photographed in the playpen above. When I did, he said something about liking a good time…"when I was much younger").
So, "if you're ever in a jam and need a door, call Fellenz Antiques, (314) 367-0213" (his plug, not mine). You'll find all kinds of architectural artifacts there too. Hours are solely dependent upon the whims of the owner (usually early a.m. until approximately 1 p.m.), Monday through Saturday, 439 N. Euclid.
Still wish Fellenz would hang a sign out front, but my guess is he never will.
What I forgot to add is that Bill has a t.v. tucked on a shelf playing episodes of Gilligan’s Island.
You’ve got a short story in those eloquent comments Mary…think about it! And thank you.
You have captured the gruff tone to a T. It’s party mystery, part mayhem in there, with the prevailing vibe ratcheted up by acrid smell of dust. But a weird sense of order prevails that knocks the stuffing out of nostalgia.