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Auction house closes doors as property owners decide to sell

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: July 8, 2009

PLANT CITY - The gavel fell for the last time at the C & S Used Furniture and Auction House where for the past 11 years various items have been offered for sale throughout the week, and selected items to the highest bidder each Saturday night.

Mack Davis, the operator of the store at 101 N. Thomas St. and the adjoining auction house, had a handshake agreement with the owners, the Bill Hancock family, since 1998.

"Mr. Hancock passed away a few months ago and his wife and family just don't want to stay involved with the property," Davis said. "The family has been very good to us over the years. We were doing well at this location, but we'll just put our things in storage, take a few months off to think about it, and see where we go from there."

The property across from the downtown post office is for sale.

"We had our final auction on June 27," Davis said. "The usual crowd was there. We sold a lot of our inventory, knowing we wouldn't be back."

On July 1 Davis loaded what remained of his furniture and auction items and moved them to storage. Last week, a For Sale sign was placed near the driveway at the north end of the store.

Realtor Judy Vogel listed the property for the owners. There are three parcels for sale by the owner separate from the furniture store. The owners are listed as Drane Street Properties Inc.

"The owners want to sell all four of the properties, but the furniture store property must be the first to sell," Vogel said. "The listed price for the store property is $135,000. All the properties can be purchased for $325,000."

Davis said he will be in no hurry to relocate his furniture store and auction.

"We have been working hard for quite a while now," Davis said. "It's time for us to relax, do a little travelling and then see how things look.

Previous occupants of the building have included a VFW post, The (Plant City) Courier, now the Plant City Courier & Tribune, and a teen dance club.

Vogel Realty Services can be reached at (813) 659-3306.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 627-4735.

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