About Holly Antiques

Built in the 1800’s, the building has served as a location for various businesses. First one that serviced horse-drawn carriages, then a series of hardware stores, and now currently an antique mall. Situated next to the Holly Township Building which housed the township offices, volunteer fire department and jail, it survived a series of fires in the 1870’s that destroyed many of the wood frame buildings on Saginaw Street.

The final hardware store business, McKays Hardware, first owned by Barbara and Ralph McKay was later sold to one of their sons who then moved the business north of downtown. After that, the building, still owned by the McKay family, became the home of Antiques on Main, later to become Main Street Antiques after change of business ownership/management. Then in 2016, on the 50th anniversary of the McKays owning the building, the current owners, Robbin Yelverton and Jerome Raska purchased the building and acquired the business in the deal.

Yelverton and Raska, with an extensive background in retail, have embraced the building and the business putting in new heating and cooling, lighting, and much more. After reorganizing and celebrating a ribbon-cutting ceremony that is still talked about downtown due to its high attendance practically shutting down Saginaw Street, the business has flourished and continues to grow.

Recently the second floor of the building has taken on a new life with the introduction of “The Bats in the Belfry”, which, besides antiques and vintage also allows up-cycle, repurpose, shabby chic, and handmade items.

What is an antique?


You might think that is a simple question to answer, but it isn’t. There are lots of different ways to define an antique. According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, an antique is a “relic or object of ancient times” or a “work of art, piece of furniture, or decorative object made at an earlier period and according to various customs laws at least 100 years ago”. Others define an antique as anything that is older than 25 years. Some people use the term vintage and some people use the term “retro”. Here are at Holly Antiques we define an antique as items at least 100 years old and vintage/retro as items dated prior to 1980 that are of significant “collect-ability”.

If you have something you want to sell, contact us and we will let you know if it qualifies to be on our floor!

*All merchandise shown in photos subject to prior sale

 

Meet the Owners

Robbin Yelverton

Robbin Yelverton is co-owner and acting manager of Holly Antiques. He has more than 30 years in the retail business and is an award-winning designer and educator. Robbin is also an ordained wedding officiant and floral consultant. His awards and memberships include:

  • Chairperson of the Ferndale Beautification Committee

  • Award winning Designer of the Year for Mississippi and Michigan Floral Associations and the National Alliance of Floral Associations

  • Award Winning Ornamental Horticulture Instructor with 10 years classroom experience

  • Former National Board Member of the American Institute of Floral Designers

  • Current Member of the Board of Trustees of the Professional Floral Communicators International

  • Guest Blogger for the Society of American Florists, About Flowers blog

  • Guest author of articles for Michigan Floral Associations’ Award-winning Floral Management magazine

  • Graduate degree in Ornamental Horticulture

  • 2016 Certified Florist of the Year, Michigan Floral Association

  • 2016 Retail Florist of the Year

Jerome Raska

Jerome Raska is the co-owner of Holly Antiques. He has more than 30 years in the retail business. He is an award-winning designer and educator. Jerome has served in product development and consulting for an international manufacturing company, is a Teleflora Education Specialist, and is a Former President of the Michigan Floral Association/Great Lakes Floral. He has also served on many boards, chambers, and business associations. His list of achievements and memberships includes:

  • Product Development and Consulting for Syndicate Sales Incorporated

  • Teleflora Education Specialist

  • President of the Michigan Floral Association

  • Board Member of the Michigan Chapter of the International Live Events Association

  • Ferndale Chamber Board of Directors

  • Board of Directors for the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority

  • M.A.C. (Michigan Aids Coalition) – Past Member of the Board of Directors

  • Ferndale Rotary Club (currently on board of directors)

  • 2016 Event Planner of the Year

  • 2016 Mayesh Design Star

  • 2016 Retail Florist of The Year