I have a soft spot in my heart for out-of-the-way little resale shops tucked away in rural areas and side streets. They bring back memories of a very special friend who frequently allowed me to tag along on her “antiquing” excursions when I was a young newlywed. We would spend hours on end prowling around the Texas Hill Country looking for everything from Carnival and Depression Glass to old barbed wire and vintage clothing.
Discovering Pic & Pay shops, located in both in Willis and New Waverly, especially reminded me of those times. At first glance, you might think Pic & Pay is a typical second-hand/salvage store, but digging a little deeper, you can find a delightfully eclectic array of bric-a-brac, clothing, office furnishings, books and – yes – great collectibles!
On my recent visit to Pic & Pay, I even found Vaudeville’s very own bawdy Miss Mae West – replica doll, that is! Stunning and sexy in her sleek satin dress, and wearing a storybook hat embellished with soft gray fantasy feathers, Miss West reigns from atop a cabinet surrounded by a unique blend of contemporary knickknacks and Cinderella style dolls.
Owners, Leo and Anita Falkner, opened the Pic & Pay in downtown Willis, December 1989; by the following August, they opened a second location in New Waverly. Most of their merchandise is purchased under Texas Chapter 59 Legal Sale for delinquent rents. Both locations rece ive daily shipments of merchandise. Because many items sell the same day of delivery, their shoppers have learned to come early and often insuring the best selection.
Buying is saving!
Anita tells that one of Leo’s favorite sayings is, ‘Buying is saving!” And, an old wooden grandfather clock they bought at an estate auction in Mexia for $40 is a perfect example.
“Someone had started to restore that old clock and had disassembled it. It looked like a pile of wooden parts with worm holes, but there was just something special about it. After some research and talking to a friend of ours who repaired clocks, we discovered it was made around 1760. Leo put it back together the best that he could and, before we even priced it, a German clock man came by and offered us $400. He then restored this treasure and sold it for $1700. That is just one example of the fun shopping resale can be.”
By shopping resale, a savvy bargain hunter can more than triple their buying power on furniture and appliances. Many things are priced about 10 cents on the dollar of the original cost. Sometimes people shop the Pic & Pay stores looking for bargains that they can re-sell on line, and we are often surprised to learn how much money they made.
“We can’t do much about today’s economy, higher taxes or gas or food prices, but a smart and careful shopper can find some very nice items for their homes and families.”
For more than twenty years Leo and Anita have met many friends in the area and their lives have been enriched by these communities. As they continue to pray and serve these locations, they hope to return the blessings. Anita said, “We want Willis and New Waverly to prosper. Saving people money is our business and we love it.”
A Family Affair
Keeping their shops “a family affair,” Leo and Anita “buy it … haul it … check it … and clean it.” Their daughter, Shari Nighbert, and husband, Mike, run the New Waverly store at 210 Gibbs, Hwy. 150, and you can reach them at 936-344-2483.
Their granddaughter, Melodie Nighbert, is the manager in the Willis shop at 513 N. Hwy. 75 — 936-524-4977.
Because of the heat, they are open fewer hours during the summer — Tues through Sat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Normal hours Mon – Sat 10 am – 6 pm will resume when school starts.
Pic & Pay collectibles include two handmade/handpainted Collector Plates available for a limited time at $15 each, although usually selling for upwards of $50 in antique shops. Pic & Pay has two locations — 210 State Highway 150, Willis, Texas, and Hwy. 150 in New Waverly, Texas.
