Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing during the afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..
The Fourth Street Mall hosts auctions 6 p.m. Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Rick Purdy displays one spiked fruit which sold for only one dollar to Freda Wilson at Thursday's auction last week.
On any given night Bill Parson will auction off everything from pretzel bags to chainsaws. Parson adds both glam and gusto to the proceedings with jokes and a good amount of humor.
Ray Ritchey, Zander Chappell, Shane Young and Eric Dale enjoying a gaming tournament at Gambit Games in the basement of the Fourth Street Mall. Gambit Games is open 12-8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and regularly features group board games and role playing games. Every Friday night a Magic the Gathering tournament is held.
The Fourth Street Mall hosts auctions 6 p.m. Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Rick Purdy displays one spiked fruit which sold for only one dollar to Freda Wilson at Thursday's auction last week.
Andrew Sheeley
Andrew Sheeley
Andrew Sheeley
Andrew Sheeley
Andrew Sheeley
Andrew Sheeley
Damian Calkins delivers 12 of the 108 jars of pickles which would be sold at auction Thursday night.
Andrew Sheeley
On any given night Bill Parson will auction off everything from pretzel bags to chainsaws. Parson adds both glam and gusto to the proceedings with jokes and a good amount of humor.
Salem’s Fourth Street Mall will turn 90 years old this year. The site has been the home to everything from the Ely Walker Factory, to Salem Sportswear and even an Apple Jack Brandy distillery. Today the building is owned by Rowden Properties and is operated by Dawn Mansfield, who bought the business from her father Bill Parson in 2012 after he fell into ill health. Parson’s health today has recovered enough that he is still a regular fixture at the store.
“If I can’t sell something cheaper than anyone else in town then I won’t stock it,” Parson says.
“We are the most unique store in town. We’re also the second largest retail facility in Dent County, only Walmart is bigger. We have two floors open for shoppers and are remodeling the third floor right now.”
Bill Parsons showing off one of his favorite finds recovered from a storage unit auction in Illinois.
Andrew Sheeley
Parson is a self-described deal hunter who helps fill the expansive walls of the Fourth Street Mall with items and novelties bought at auctions across the Midwest. Like the television show Storage Wars, Parson buys many of the items at storage unit auctions where the contents of abandoned units are sold to the highest bidder. Many of the items are also provided by consignment vendors who each specialize in certain items. Among the current vendors are “Jingle” Johnson, Gary Barton, A.M. Geist, Keith Plank and Phyllis Headricks.
“We have daily turnover,” Parson says. “When you come in here you’ll never know what you’ll find. I try to keep a good mix of items. I just hate to see someone leave without buying something.”
On any given day shoppers will find everything from vintage records, to antique furniture, discount groceries and even a decorative suit of armor. Parson’s latest deal was inked with Red Bull and the store now sells cans for only $1.49, more than 50 cents cheaper than his closest competitor.
One of the Fourth Street Mall’s biggest draws are the regular auctions which occur every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Attendees to the auctions can purchase a wild assortment of commodities, home wares and novel oddities. More than simply being a bargain opportunity, however, the auctions are a fun-filled spectacle with laughs, jokes and an infectious humor which gives nearly everyone in the room a contagious smile throughout the night.
Gambit Games in the Fourth Street Mall's basement is also open 12-8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and regularly features group board games and role playing games. Every Friday night a Magic the Gathering tournament is held.
Ray Ritchey, Zander Chappell, Shane Young and Eric Dale enjoying a gaming tournament at Gambit Games in the basement of the Fourth Street Mall. Gambit Games is open 12-8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and regularly features group board games and role playing games. Every Friday night a Magic the Gathering tournament is held.
