Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1344697
I n Fall 2015, The Compound Antique Show opened with three barns in place: the 9,000-square-foot Neal Barn, 6,000-square-foot Peck Barn, and 3,500-square-foot Carriage House. By the time of the first show, all three were full. "Old World Antieks was our first contract," Johnston says. "I had shopped their headquarters in La Grange and just thought what a good idea it would be for them to have a venue on our side of Round Top, close to their showroom facility. They agreed." Other "first" dealers joined in and are still part of the group, including Black Sheep Antiques, MC Antiques, Antiques of Dallas, Axe Antiques, Southern Classic Jewelry, Eneby Home, American Spirit Antiques, Big Blue Treasures, and Du Temps d'Alice. This group saw the value of the location and trusted in the duo's ability to deliver. "I can't tell you how very little they had to work with in order to reach that conclusion," Johnston says. "I call them our intrepid few." In 2016, The Grove was further developed into the verdant space it is today, and The Stables barn was added. Its numerous doors are double- hung, allowing a lot of versatility in bringing both light and air into the interior space. Massey says, "It's a real feel-good building, one of my favorites. I designed the cross section to be the focal point with huge double antique doors and a 'bats in the belfry' scale to the loft of the ceiling. It's impressive." It became the show home to a group of other "first" dealers with its arrival on the venue's campus. Pascal Home, Manos de Sur, Farm & Factory Interiors, ReWorks, and Nomads Loom all joined the team for the second show. The Granary Barn was added in 2019, anchoring the Gazebo area with the Peck Barn and lending synergy to the core. Last year, construction began on the Fickle Barn. Massey sold a portion of his acreage to longtime dealer Lori Smithers, who built her own building for warehousing and display. She continues as a Compound dealer, and Johnston has added her structure to the facility mix available to dealers as part of the show. COVID struck some blows, but the fall show was a gangbuster inauguration for that new facility. This past winter show brought Massey and Johnston head-to-head again, discussing future plans for the site. "We're a good team," Massey says. Johnston adds, "We're simpatico." Both express that it's got to be good fun as well as good business. Stay tuned for what's next. It's sure to be entertaining. roundtopcompound.com. EACH BUILDING "TALKS" TO THE NEXT AND IS CONNECTED BY GREEN SPACE, PATHS, AND GARDENS. Mark Massey Kathy Johnston JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON 87