For Bailey, buying and selling merchandise is in his blood

Kevin Bailey believes the luck of the Irish is shining just inside the door of his business.

In celebration of three years as proprietor of Coalbelt Antiques, Collectables & Used Furniture, Bailey is extending his hours for a one-day sale and slashing prices by 17 percent.

"I opened the store on St. Patrick's Day three years ago and am celebrating the third anniversary on March 17," he said. "Because the anniversary date is the 17th, I am offering 17 percent off merchandise from selected vendors throughout the store. The sale will continue until the end of the month on selected merchandise."

Bailey said he is also extending store hours for that day only: "We will stay open until 9 p.m. on March 17 for our after-hours furniture sale."

"This business is in my blood," Bailey said. "I have been doing this since I was 16. I just turned 40, so I would say most of my life has been devoted to looking for quality merchandise."

One of 22 vendors, Roger Edwards said he has been buying and selling antiques for between 35 and 40 years.

"I live in close proximity to Kevin's business and particularly enjoy finding one-of-a-kind items," Edwards said. "I particularly love the old coal mining flame safety lighting equipment. They are now obsolete and range from 1800 to 1890. The newest ones are from 1920. These safety lights were used in coal mines until 1990.

"I worked for Inland Steel Company that was later called Consolidated Rend Lake Mine," Edwards said. "I have been a vendor here since Kevin opened his doors three years ago."

Edwards said his booth would offer selected merchandise at a 17-percent discount through the end of March.

Bailey said his business started out of necessity after he lost his job.

"This is something that I had always wanted to do," he said. "I offer a wide range of collectibles and antiques, along with retro and used furniture in the store's 33 booths. Our latest specialty is new furniture. Our clientele is changing the way that collecting is done. Ours is more of a collectibles store than an antique store. One thing that I strive to do is change the merchandise. The store changes daily.

"I typically buy from large estate sales in the St. Louis area and have things that you can't find in other stores around here," Bailey said. "For example, we have an Eames-era chair and ottoman, a round bed from the late 1960s or early ’70s that is probably the only one of its kind in town, and a Dad's root beer barrel with spigots from the 1940s."

Kevin Bailey believes the luck of the Irish is shining just inside the door of his business.

In celebration of three years as proprietor of Coalbelt Antiques, Collectables & Used Furniture, Bailey is extending his hours for a one-day sale and slashing prices by 17 percent.

"I opened the store on St. Patrick's Day three years ago and am celebrating the third anniversary on March 17," he said. "Because the anniversary date is the 17th, I am offering 17 percent off merchandise from selected vendors throughout the store. The sale will continue until the end of the month on selected merchandise."

Bailey said he is also extending store hours for that day only: "We will stay open until 9 p.m. on March 17 for our after-hours furniture sale."

"This business is in my blood," Bailey said. "I have been doing this since I was 16. I just turned 40, so I would say most of my life has been devoted to looking for quality merchandise."

One of 22 vendors, Roger Edwards said he has been buying and selling antiques for between 35 and 40 years.

"I live in close proximity to Kevin's business and particularly enjoy finding one-of-a-kind items," Edwards said. "I particularly love the old coal mining flame safety lighting equipment. They are now obsolete and range from 1800 to 1890. The newest ones are from 1920. These safety lights were used in coal mines until 1990.

"I worked for Inland Steel Company that was later called Consolidated Rend Lake Mine," Edwards said. "I have been a vendor here since Kevin opened his doors three years ago."

Edwards said his booth would offer selected merchandise at a 17-percent discount through the end of March.

Bailey said his business started out of necessity after he lost his job.

"This is something that I had always wanted to do," he said. "I offer a wide range of collectibles and antiques, along with retro and used furniture in the store's 33 booths. Our latest specialty is new furniture. Our clientele is changing the way that collecting is done. Ours is more of a collectibles store than an antique store. One thing that I strive to do is change the merchandise. The store changes daily.

"I typically buy from large estate sales in the St. Louis area and have things that you can't find in other stores around here," Bailey said. "For example, we have an Eames-era chair and ottoman, a round bed from the late 1960s or early ’70s that is probably the only one of its kind in town, and a Dad's root beer barrel with spigots from the 1940s."

Bailey said he, his father Jack Bailey and Cliff Wallace operate the store from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

"Dad helps inside the store, and Cliff helps me deliver furniture to our clientele. We offer free local delivery service by appointment. Cliff also helps me pick up merchandise during our visits to the estate sales. We have tried to better ourselves in terms of quality merchandise every year that we have been in business," Bailey said.

He and his staff have a simple approach to the business.

"We don't try to impose as people are shopping," Bailey said. "We have more of a laid-back attitude. My favorite part of this business is that no two days are alike. Every day is new and fun.

"Our clientele continues to grow," he said." The interstate really helps to draw in the traffic. We have people visit from upstate New York, Texas, South Carolina and Wisconsin, and major cities including Chicago and St. Louis. We have dealers from as far away as Texas and South Carolina. We also draw customers from Mt. Vernon, Ashley and Centralia."