The set of Boardwalk Empire has come to Bridgeport and Black Rock Galleries will host an in-store auction this Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. prior to an online auction.
More from city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
This week, Mayor Bill Finch spent his birthday exploring Bridgeport’s Black Rock Galleries (BRG), an independently owned, 50,000-square-foot antique shop on Fairfield Avenue. And, a little bit of television history.
“There are a lot of fans of Boardwalk Empire. The television show’s production has ended. Now, the set is located right here in Bridgeport at Black Rock Galleries and will be sold in an online worldwide auction,” said Mayor Bill Finch.
Mayor Bill Finch, right, with operators of gallery.
Boardwalk Empire enthusiasts have an unparalleled opportunity to own a piece of Nucky Thompson’s world when Black Rock Galleries (BRG) offers items from the sets and production of the series in its online auction ending on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 PM EST at www.blackrockgalleries.com.
Auction highlights include the chair and clock from Nucky’s office, the Commodore’s alligator and notable signage from the boardwalk. The vast variety of lots hitting the auction block also include Prohibition Era styled liquor crates, carnival game props, decorative items, period garbage pails and even the birthday cake from Nucky’s big birthday bash.
“When the Boardwalk Empire production team approached us, we were astounded at the sheer quantity of items available. It has taken us months to inventory, photograph and prepare these items for our online auction, all while our customers have been anxiously awaiting the date. We’re offering this collection through our new online auction platform at blackrockgalleries.com,” explains Grant Panarese, managing director and co-owner of BRG.
Mayor Finch this week was given a tour around the space by owners Panarese and Christie Spooner, who opened their antique shop on Fairfield Avenue in 2012 after over 20 years of auction experience. Since the Boardwalk Empire collection arrived on the floor, Black Rock Galleries has seen interested investors from as far as Colorado and California and even the United Kingdom.
· For a video showing highlights click here: bit.ly/1w4yHrx. · For photos from Black Rock Galleries click here: bit.ly/18QQxEh.
“People should come to this store. They will see so many incredible things that they’ll want to buy a bigger house so they can buy things and bring them home,” said Mayor Finch.
This collection is no small matter.
“There’s a lot to take on. Even just to truck this in and bring it into the building. This was 20 truckloads. Twenty, 26-foot box trucks full of stuff,” said Panarese.
The owners of Black Rock Galleries are also using this recent highlight to give back to Bridgeport. The gallery will be holding a live in-store auction this Saturday, March 7, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM to sell some items from the collection that will not be online.
With a $20 donation upon entrance, there will be music and dancing along with a chance to bid on exciting props from the show. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.
· Click here to read more about Saturday’s event: bit.ly/1zQGZyp.
Black Rock Galleries is located at 1720 Fairfield Avenue. Their website is
