Mark your calendars for Western New York’s very first Collectors’ Expo! Featuring more than 30 vendors and 50 tables of unique merchandise, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 in the historic Buffalo Irish Center, located at 245 Abbott Road in South Buffalo.
Vendor and artisan offerings will include sports memorabilia, locally made artwork and handcrafted products, collectible coins, music memorabilia and records, comic books, photography, political memorabilia, movie and theatre memorabilia, car and train memorabilia, jewelry, fossils and minerals, antiques and much more.
Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame wide receiver Andre Reed will be appearing at the event, courtesy of Bases Loaded Sports Collectibles, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Autographs will be available for $30, and pre-sale tickets are available by contacting Bases Loaded, 794 French Road, Cheektowaga, at 656-0066. Autograph tickets will also be available at the event.
In honor of Reed’s appearance, local artisan printer The Pickle Ship from Orchard Park is teaming up with Cheektowaga artist Ken Newton to produce limited-numbered Reed prints on a vintage press — on the spot — during the Hall of Famer’s appearance! These unique prints will be available for just $5 each at The Pickle Ship’s table during the event, and Newton will also be on hand to sign his artwork.
Antiques expert Bill Hartung will offer antique appraisals at the event from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $2 per item with a maximum of three items per person. Proceeds from the appraisals, plus 100 percent of the show’s $2 admission price, will be donated to Dog Ears Bookstore, South Buffalo Alive and the Buffalo Irish Center.
Author and Williamsville resident Dave Bauer will be a vendor at the event and will sign copies of his children’s book, “What’s Under That Rock, Papa?” during the Expo. Additionally, local writer Michael Farrell will stop by for a book-signing from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by author Jeff Schober from 2 to 3 p.m.
If your children are fans of “Elsa,” bring them to the Collectors’ Expo from 11 a.m. to noon to meet “Elsa” in person!
All attendees will receive a free pack of “vintage” baseball, football or hockey cards while supplies last. Children under 10 will be admitted free. For more information and frequent updates, please follow the Collectors’ Expo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Collectors-Expo-162985497593654.
