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Weird, wacky stuff provides treasure for store's owners
By MICHELLE JONES © St. Petersburg Times, published February 5, 2001 LAND O'LAKES -Former President Clinton and movie star Harrison Ford serve as greeters at Famous Treasures in Land O'Lakes. Well, sort of. The two are lifesize wax figures bearing a striking resemblance to their real-life counterparts. They stand near the door of the quirky business of Steve Richardson and his wife, Jay. Some visitors do a double take as they enter the antique and collectible shop at 4312 Land O'Lakes Blvd. In another room, a lifelike Albert Einstein, with hair astray, sits on a chair. In his hand is an antique eyeglass case. In one of the back rooms, armed with nun-chucks, Bruce Lee wards off an enemy. In between are a plethora of antiques, collectibles, furniture, pottery, jewelry, clothes, knickknacks, toys and other unusual or hard-to-find treasures. The owner's most expensive item is a Babe Ruth lobby card from the 1927 movie Babe Comes Home. "It is the only one known to exist at this time," said John Pepe, the manager. "It is worth $75,000 to $100,000." Coca- Cola memorabilia sells the quickest. "And, pottery," Pepe said. "The Rose Ville is popular." In February 2000, the Richardsons purchased the store from Jane Brossard. Previously, it was known as Calamity Jane's. Collecting and selling antiques is not the only business Richardson is in. His primary job is owning a detective agency with a staff of detectives around the country. The shop is a hobby, an elaborate hobby, Pepe said. They also own a horse ranch in Ocala. Outside visitors are greeted with a security sign, warning that even as you are reading the sign, your picture is being taken. This is a precaution to ward off potential thieves. Last month, two Nazi armbands from World War II, valued at $320, and a vase and two candle holders, valued at $710, were stolen. Pepe believes the armbands were targeted because of their historical significance, not for any kind of a hate group. Thursday, Clovis Earl Chambliss, 53, of Hudson was arrested and charged in the theft. Inside, several cameras are stationed to keep track of the shoppers' whereabouts. Shoplifting is definitely discouraged with the use of the surveillance cameras and television sets. The authentic gasoline pumps outside on the porch are popular items, Pepe said, but one of the most talked about is the stagecoach Pepe says was used in the 1994 movie Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. A few yards from the stagecoach is a full size 1948 yellow Coca-Cola truck that has been refurbished and is ready to drive off the lot. "(Richardson) has been offered $50,000 for it, twice and turned it down," said James Herdman, who lives in Clearwater and drives 40 minutes to work at the store. Herdman says the place is more like a museum than a store. He points out a hand-carved Budweiser beer cart being pulled by miniature Clydesdale horses. It is six feet long and eight inches tall. Twelve thousand dollars and it's sold. Lobster traps, soda fountain stools, wicker furniture and a ceramic statue of Humphrey Bogart along with several old advertising signs are scattered on the porch or in the yard. Prices for the stuff range from a few dollars to thousands. Some are priced high to discourage buyers -- like the $29,000 pink beaded evening gown that belonged to Barbra Streisand. It was a gift from Richardson to his wife. "She's a big fan of Barbra," Pepe said. The Richardsons purchase their eclectic assortment of merchandise at auctions, estate and garage sales. They also sell movie posters and movie memorabilia on the Internet. Pepe says eBay.com has taken a bite from those into the antique business. "(People) get a digital camera and list their items," he said. "There is no overhead to deal with." However, the Internet doesn't offer a cup of coffee and a warm greeting to their customers. A brass ashtray stand sells for $60 and old drive-in speaker boxes, that hung on car doors, sells for $225. A "rare" Babe Ruth burlap bag for pinto beans cost $145. Antique furniture fill one room. A handsome marble topped dresser, with mirror, costs $425. Another room features neon signs touting the products of Foster, Ice House, Coors and Budweiser among others. Even old automobile license plates sell for $12 each. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday. It is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. - Michelle Jones covers central Pasco community news. She can be reached at (813) 226-3459. Her e-mail is jones@sptimes.com.
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