BETTENDORF ― Out with the new and in with old seemed to be the motto here at the inaugural Bettendorf Americana, the vintage car and antique show and auction organized by TV personality Rob Wolfe of "American Pickers" that drew thousands of people from all over the country Thursday.
As vendors began to pack away their items for the night, Wolfe was already thinking about the next year.
"We're going to build this bigger next year," Wolfe said. "We want to make this big, and everybody has seen what the vision is. That's the biggest thing for me: to get the vendors here and wrap their heads around it. This will always be a success and will get better with more time."
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Wolfe highlights the rich history that came alive on the event's first day, with restored vintage cars shining in the parking lot on a hot Iowa summer day. The atmosphere was further enriched by presidential pins, original gas pumps, and classic advertising signs inside the corral space, all of which added a vibrant touch to the already historic river town.
More than 350 vendors converged from every corner of Iowa, East Coast states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut, Southern states including Florida and Texas, and even West Coast places like California and Washington. They shared their unique wares and stories to cultivate community and see what what others brought.
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Shaun Higgins, a friend of Wolfe, made the 20-hour drive from Berkley, Connecticut. This was the farthest he has traveled for a show, and the fwill ever go. For the past 30 years, Higgins has been collecting automobilia and has been interested in old-school neon signs and advertisements from an early age.
"When Robbie approached me about it, it sounded pretty exciting," Higgins said. I was more than happy to throw my support behind him, and hopefully, it just takes off. I would love to see it become successful and come out here every year."
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For Wolfe and Higgins, the camaraderie of events like Bettendorf Americana and others is part of the fun. They also enjoy discovering new things and echo the fact that there is something for everyone.
"You can find something here, whether it's something that reminds you of your childhood, something you saw on TV, the car you used to have when you were a kid, or something your parents had," Higgins said. "I would encourage anybody that has an interest to come out to a show; you can go on Facebook and join a group, but to me, physically touching a sign and holding it and looking at it is so much different than buying it from a picture online."
The $10 three-day admission wristband proceeds go to scholarships for students with a keen interest in antiques, preservation or auctions. Wolfe hopes to raise as much as $100,000 for the cause.
What might seem like a dated tradition to onlookers is undoubtedly alive with younger generations. At the roadshow, teenagers are in tow with their parents gathering treasures. Wolfe sees this with his daughter, who only buys clothes at secondhand thrift stores.
"People want stuff with history and stories," Wolfe said. "It doesn't matter what you buy in this world. You buy it because you like it."
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On the first day, Wolfe even picked up treasures while doing laps around the event space, including a 19th century French bulldog "Growler," a paper mache pull chain toy that makes a growling noise when pulled. He snagged this find for $500 when others online can range in price from $1,000 to $3,500.
"People think I'm a sign guy, but I am an antique guy," Wolfe said.
Bettendorf Americana will continue through Saturday, with wristbands still for sale upon entrance.
On Friday, the highly anticipated auction hosted by Richmond Auctions will commence. The South Carolina auction house specializes in automobilia, and the lot includes 300 lots of neon, porcelain and tin signs that will be up for bids.
Notably, Richmond Auction set a world record for the most expensive antique advertising sign sold at auction, a 48-inch, double-sided porcelain Musgo Gasoline sign. The selling price of $1.5 million broke the previous record of $400,000.
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"We are looking forward to this one-of-a-kind opportunity to work alongside Rob Wolfe of 'American Pickers' and bring this auction to life," said Jordan Richmond, owner and founder of Richmond Auctions, in a news release. "Rob Wolfe is an icon, and we know that this event will be like no other. We are excited to present this assortment of unique pieces to collectors and enthusiasts alike."
While the event is in full swing, Wolfe is excited about what is next, including expanding the auction to a two-day event with double the items.
"We are excited to see everyone back at the same time next year," Wolfe said.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Pickers paradise: Rob Wolfe of 'American Pickers' touts vintage show as big crowd-pleaser
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