What's on 2nd?: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Whats on 2nd.JPG|right|225px|thumb|What's on 2nd?, August 2010]] | [[Image:Whats on 2nd.JPG|right|225px|thumb|What's on 2nd?, August 2010]] | ||
'''What's on 2nd?''' is a store specializing in antiques, art, and collectibles located | '''What's on 2nd?''' is a store specializing in antiques, art, and collectibles located at 1101 [[20th Street South]] in the [[Spanish Stores]] building | ||
Long-time antiques dealers [[Steve Gilmer]] and [[Michele Wilson]] opened the store on May [[2007]] in a two-story building at 2306 [[2nd Avenue North]], which inspired the name. The grand opening was celebrated on [[July 6]] of that year. | Long-time antiques dealers [[Steve Gilmer]] and [[Michele Wilson]] opened the store on May [[2007]] in a two-story building at 2306 [[2nd Avenue North]], which inspired the name. The grand opening was celebrated on [[July 6]] of that year. | ||
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The shop specializes in nostalgia items rather than decorator antiques. Along with hundreds of thousands of postcards and pop-culture items the store has a selection of advertising and architectural fragments, t-shirts, toys, model kits, comic books and other collectibles, including letter-size photocopies of a wide selection of Gilmer's postcard collection. Some furniture pieces, books and folk-art creations also find their way into the store. In later years a diverse line of vintage video game systems and cartridges was added to the store's offerings. | The shop specializes in nostalgia items rather than decorator antiques. Along with hundreds of thousands of postcards and pop-culture items the store has a selection of advertising and architectural fragments, t-shirts, toys, model kits, comic books and other collectibles, including letter-size photocopies of a wide selection of Gilmer's postcard collection. Some furniture pieces, books and folk-art creations also find their way into the store. In later years a diverse line of vintage video game systems and cartridges was added to the store's offerings. | ||
Gilmer fills the windows with seasonal displays, including a science-fiction theme during the [[OmegaCon]] and a political theme during the [[2008 elections|election season]]. The store also | Gilmer fills the windows with seasonal displays, including a science-fiction theme during the [[OmegaCon]] and a political theme during the [[2008 elections|election season]]. The store also served as a venue for fundraisers and art shows, and as an artist site during the [[Artwalk]] festival when it was located in the [[Loft District]]. Co-owner [[Ian Philips]] came on board in [[2011]]. | ||
In [[2016]] What's on 2nd? downsized and moved to a smaller location in the Wooster Lofts, | In April [[2016]] What's on 2nd? downsized and moved to a smaller location at 2323 [[1st Avenue North (downtown)|1st Avenue North]] in the [[Wooster Lofts]] building (the former [[Calder warehouse]]). After four years there, Gilmer's lease expired and, at the invitation of building owner [[Bob Moody]], he moved the store into its last 1,729 square-foot location. Gilmer died in November [[2023]]. Friend and part-time employee [[Alfred Smith]] kept the store open through December. | ||
==References== | |||
* Buchanan, Charles (July 6, 2007) "What's on 2nd?" opens tonight." ''The Terminal'' | |||
* Tomberlin, Michael (August 24, 2008) "On the Record with Steve Gilmer, co-owner of What's on 2nd? In downtown Birmingham." {{BN}} | |||
* Reeves, Jay (May 10, 2015) "Quirky Alabama shop lures visitors for hours." Associated Press | |||
* Prickett, Sam (December 21, 2015) "What’s on Second to relocate in February." {{Weld}} | |||
* Van der Bijl, Hanno (December 2, 2020) "What’s on Second to relocate to Five Points South." {{BBJ}} | |||
* Adams, Jenny (n. d.) "[https://www.americanway.com/articles/whats-on-second-birmingham/ Your childhood memories live on in this Birmingham toy shop]" ''American Way'' | |||
* "[https://abouttown.webflow.io/features/whats-on-2nd-now-its-on-20th What’s on 2nd? Now it's on 20th!]" (February 9, 2021) ''[[About Town]]'' | |||
* Thornton, William (November 27, 2023) "Beloved Birmingham curio shop What’s On 2nd closing after owner dies." {{AL}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=uyWI6HZTSQ0 What's on 2nd?] video ad by [[Vacant Manifesto]] | * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=uyWI6HZTSQ0 What's on 2nd?] video ad by [[Vacant Manifesto]] | ||
[[Category:Antique stores]] | [[Category:Antique stores]] | ||
[[Category:Art galleries]] | [[Category:Art galleries]] | ||
[[Category:2007 establishments]] | [[Category:2007 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:2023 disestablishments]] | |||
[[Category:Kreulhaus-Steele Building]] | |||
[[Category:Wooster Lofts]] | |||
[[Category:Spanish Stores]] | |||
Latest revision as of 16:47, 23 January 2024
What's on 2nd? is a store specializing in antiques, art, and collectibles located at 1101 20th Street South in the Spanish Stores building
Long-time antiques dealers Steve Gilmer and Michele Wilson opened the store on May 2007 in a two-story building at 2306 2nd Avenue North, which inspired the name. The grand opening was celebrated on July 6 of that year.
The shop specializes in nostalgia items rather than decorator antiques. Along with hundreds of thousands of postcards and pop-culture items the store has a selection of advertising and architectural fragments, t-shirts, toys, model kits, comic books and other collectibles, including letter-size photocopies of a wide selection of Gilmer's postcard collection. Some furniture pieces, books and folk-art creations also find their way into the store. In later years a diverse line of vintage video game systems and cartridges was added to the store's offerings.
Gilmer fills the windows with seasonal displays, including a science-fiction theme during the OmegaCon and a political theme during the election season. The store also served as a venue for fundraisers and art shows, and as an artist site during the Artwalk festival when it was located in the Loft District. Co-owner Ian Philips came on board in 2011.
In April 2016 What's on 2nd? downsized and moved to a smaller location at 2323 1st Avenue North in the Wooster Lofts building (the former Calder warehouse). After four years there, Gilmer's lease expired and, at the invitation of building owner Bob Moody, he moved the store into its last 1,729 square-foot location. Gilmer died in November 2023. Friend and part-time employee Alfred Smith kept the store open through December.
References
- Buchanan, Charles (July 6, 2007) "What's on 2nd?" opens tonight." The Terminal
- Tomberlin, Michael (August 24, 2008) "On the Record with Steve Gilmer, co-owner of What's on 2nd? In downtown Birmingham." The Birmingham News
- Reeves, Jay (May 10, 2015) "Quirky Alabama shop lures visitors for hours." Associated Press
- Prickett, Sam (December 21, 2015) "What’s on Second to relocate in February." Weld for Birmingham
- Van der Bijl, Hanno (December 2, 2020) "What’s on Second to relocate to Five Points South." Birmingham Business Journal
- Adams, Jenny (n. d.) "Your childhood memories live on in this Birmingham toy shop" American Way
- "What’s on 2nd? Now it's on 20th!" (February 9, 2021) About Town
- Thornton, William (November 27, 2023) "Beloved Birmingham curio shop What’s On 2nd closing after owner dies." AL.com
External links
- What's on 2nd? website
- What's On Second on Facebook
- What's on 2nd? video ad by Vacant Manifesto