Meet the Owner: Seminole Heights Antiques

In the antique shop world, it’s easy to get lulled into a sense of permanence. But don’t think that shifting trends don’t apply in Keith Motko’s shop. The owner of sees a pretty clear tack from his vantage point.

“My clientele is getting younger and younger every year,” he said. “I’m getting rid of all the old grannies. All of the old stuff just doesn’t sell any more. Depression era glass doesn’t sell any more. The days of just collecting tons and tons of stuff are going.”

Motko does carry tons and tons of stuff, from all sorts of eras. It is still an antique shop. But one category is moving through Motko’s store like no other: mid century modern furniture and décor. “I can’t keep it in the store,” he said.

And it’s the younger clientele who are snapping it up, and for different reasons, Motko said. “The younger clientele are buying this stuff because they’re going to use it. They’re not buying things just to put on a shelf behind some glass. They remember what grandma had in the house in the late ‘50s, the ‘60s and the ‘70s. So if they buy a couch (from this era) it’s because they’re actually going to use it.”

Another trend Motko notices is his neighborhood antique shop isn’t serving the neighborhood quite so much these days. He estimates that 60 percent of his business comes from outside Seminole Heights. He sees customers from Pinellas, Lutz, north Tampa, and even – would you believe – South Tampa, the traditional stronghold of Tampa’s antique shop scene.

Seminole Heights Antiques and Home Décor
4713 N Florida Ave.
813-237-5850
seminoleheightsantiques.com

Antiques pedigree: Motko’s store occupies three storefronts in 1928 vintage apartment and commercial store building. He took over the previous business, Seminole Heights Antiques and Consignment, in September 2010. At that time Motko also took over an adjacent storefront that had been occupied by Tampa Street Market.

Want to be ahead of the fashion curve? Take a tip from Motko: “The ‘70s chrome stuff in L.A. and Chicago(antique stores) is hot now. Tampa’s a little behind. It hasn’t caught on here yet.

Mid century mod Cliff Notes: “The ‘60s and Danish (design styles) are really hot. The color orange is big, red is hot. Butterscotch is coming back hot.”

Is the old provincialism dying? “The attitude used to be, 'Well I never shop north of Kennedy,'” Motko said of the stereotypical South Tampa shopper. “But there’s a whole new echelon of people moving to South Tampa – doctors, lawyers, professionals, and they’re a lot of fun. They have a good eye.” It’s what led Motko to devise his business slogan: “South Tampa look at Seminole Heights prices.”

What does Motko like? “I do like mid century modern. I deal with it all the time, and I have some of it in my house. But I like old West Palm Beach style. I have a lot of Cuban furniture, and Spanish-looking stuff, wrought iron fixtures and dark red-stained glass from the ‘20s. Kind of like Don Cesar-ish, if that makes any sense.”

An old soul: Motko sold his first piece of antique furniture at age 13 off of his American Flyer wagon to “an old lady down the street.” He’s been antiquing on and off ever since. He moved to Tampa eight years ago to be near his father, and currently lives near Temple Terrace.

Store hours: Tuesday through Saturday noon to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday noon to 5 p.m.