Soon it will be moving day for Freddi Papineau’s Miracle Mile Mercantile in Redding. The lot upon which her store sits is needed for part of the upcoming hotel construction project next door.
And rather then pack up and move nearly 40 years’ worth of accumulated antiques, collectibles and funky old stuff, owner Freddie Papineau will auction off more than 1,000 lots of her inventory in a liquidation sale tomorrow.
When I think of Miracle Mile Mercantile, I think of a treasure trove of old stuff that ranges from interesting to historically valuable. For example, many years ago a friend bought some incredible vintage Christmas ornaments there.
Papineau, who also owns Graphic Emporium in downtown Redding, said her store has so much merchandise that she’s arranged two on-premises auction dates to get rid of everything. Tomorrow, Dec. 14, is the first, and and Sat., Jan. 12, is the second.
You can preview the merchandise all day today. Vintage signs, old liquor bottles, shot glasses, collectible cookie jars, an early Las Vegas craps table, one of the first electric washing machines, antique toys. And thousands of other things.
Meanwhile, Papineau and Miracle Mile Mercantile, the store her father opened in 1970, will downsize and move to a smaller, yellow brick building on Pine Street, nestled between the Salvation Army and Wells Fargo Bank. She expects that it may take a few months to remodel her new store. Papineau hopes to open in the spring.
“We’ve been here a long time, and leaving this building marks the end of an era,” she said. “I’m hoping that yellow brick building will be my yellow brick road.”
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Miracle Mile Mercantile liquidation auctions
When: 9 a.m., Sat. Dec. 15 and Sat. Jan. 19
Where: Miracle Mile Mercantile, 499 North Market Street in Redding
Phone: 246-7727
