The back entrance of Hanifin’s Arts and Antiques facing Curry Street on July 5.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
For nearly a quarter-century, Hanifin’s Arts and Antiques owner Michael Robbins has been present in the economic life of downtown Carson City. He saw the Great Recession, street revitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 5, not without bittersweetness, he told the Appeal he will be closing his doors by the end of this year.
“I’m definitely leaving by the end of the year,” he said. “I’m not relocating anywhere because I don’t have the strength.”
For Hanifin fans and antique enthusiasts in general, there is a silver lining in the news: Robbins is offering significant discounts on an estimated $2 million of inventory, much of which is displayed in the 9,700-square-foot store at 210 N. Carson St.
“Anybody that wants a deal, I’m giving it to them right now,” Robbins said. “I’ve asked people on our television advertisement to bring their trucks because I don’t have the personnel to get rid of this stuff.”
Robbins said people interested in the sale should just visit the store.
“Just come in,” he said. “You can’t buy this stuff over the phone. You got to see it to appreciate it.”
Michael Robbins, owner of Hanifin’s Arts and Antiques, talks about the shop on July 5. (Scott Neuffer photo) Robbins, 73, is a Zephyr Cove resident with a background in construction and a love of antiques and art. He ran an antique shop at Lake Tahoe for several years before making the transition to downtown Carson City circa 2000. He said when first opening, he spent upward of $300,000 on renovating the storefront, which is more than 100 years old.
“I came here because I thought I wanted to be in a bigger place, to be in an area conducive to shopping and tourism,” he said. “When I got here in the year 2000, there were like 20 vacancies on Main Street. It was different.”
Though Robbins is planning to retire, he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for the trade. That enthusiasm was evident as he moved through the store pointing out favorite furniture and artwork, some pieces dating back to the 17th century. He said the store has items from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe as well as items significant to local history. He described how people enjoy antiques for both functional and aesthetic reasons.
“We don’t buy low-end antiques,” he said. “We buy higher-end stuff, and we do minimal work. I have like one person or two people that all they do is polish things … make everything perfect the way it was 150 years ago.”
Robbins said for children who show up in the store with parents, he always provides toys if they promise not to break anything.
“Kids have never broken anything in this place all through the years,” he said.
The business community in downtown Carson City will do well in the future, Robbins believes.
“It’s a nice focal point,” he said. “Most of our customers come here to shop. They go out to dinner. They go out to lunch. They go to the museum… It’s a great little town, and I think it’s underrepresented in the area. I wish downtown Carson all the best.”
When asked what he’ll miss about the store, Robbins said he’ll miss his customers.
“I love the people,” he said. “Our customers are just wonderful, wonderful people. People that appreciate this stuff are really the best because they know how much work goes into this stuff.”
Hanifin’s is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information, call 775-882-2880.