Terry Sanchez, a fixture in Kansas City’s antique scene for over 50 years, faces the emotional and logistical challenges of closing his shop, Weird Stuff Antiques.
Terry Sanchez, a veteran in the antiques business, is nearing the end of his career as he prepares to close his shop, Weird Stuff Antiques, located in Kansas City’s West Bottoms. Originally intending to vacate the premises by the beginning of the year, Sanchez, 70, finds himself still in the midst of a chaotic inventory, filled with vintage items such as mopeds, guitars, and oil paintings. “Realistically? I figure it’ll be another five or six months,” Sanchez stated. He expressed that deciding to retire from the brick-and-mortar business is as much an emotional challenge as it is a logistical one.
Having dedicated over half a century to the antiques business, Sanchez cites several reasons for his closure, including rising rent, declining walk-in traffic since the pandemic, and an overall shift toward online sales. “I don’t know anything else except the junk business,” he said. The plan is for him to transition to an online-only presence as he closes the physical location.
Sanchez’s journey in the vintage world began back in the 1970s after a pivotal experience selling a coat for cash. He opened his first store, The Junk Store, in Kansas City, Kansas, and went on to establish a series of shops that adapted to the city’s evolving neighborhoods. This included a vintage clothing shop in the late 1970s and a New Wave-inspired shop called Punk Funk.
“He’s been doing the vintage thing longer than just about anybody else I know of in town,” remarked Kevin Kinkead, co-owner of Boomerang, a vintage shop founded in 1989. Throughout his career, Sanchez has been involved in various business ventures, including prop rentals for films and collaborations with restaurant management firms.
Now, as Sanchez prepares for retirement, he confronts the reality of the changes in his environment. His shop at 1703 W. Ninth St. has been the focus of real estate speculation, leading to a situation where his landlord is less inclined to support his longstanding tenancy despite the improvements he made to the property. “No loyalty,” Sanchez commented on the changes, reflecting on his more than eight years in the West Bottoms.
The future for Sanchez involves moving his remaining inventory to his home, which he describes as a log cabin in Wyandotte County, surrounded by woods and wildlife. He has already started building an online presence with the help of Unique, his partner, through various platforms. “All that crap,” he said of the effort he has put into his online sales.
As the closing of Weird Stuff Antiques approaches, Sanchez has had difficulty parting with the store and its emotional ties. “I have a friend that does estate sales who said she’d come in and liquidate the place for me,” he said, admitting he has hesitated to make that call. Sanchez’s long and storied career in the junk business is set to come to an end, marking the conclusion of an era in Kansas City’s vintage landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
