Photo by Steve Galluzzo
By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Collections Antiques and Books, located at 15326 Antioch Street, is closing at the end of September, according to signs placed on the storefront.
The original Collections Antiques & Accessories store reopened as Collections Antiques and Books under a new owner.
Originally owned by Martha Strang since 1991, her longtime associate Jeff Ridgway took over the space on December 1, 2021, and introduced a collection of books to the antique shop.
“I met Martha when I would visit her in the store to sell advertising for the local papers,” Ridgway previously told the Palisadian-Post. “A few years ago … she told me she was looking for someone to work part-time, and I promised to find her someone. When I failed to do so, I thought maybe I should just jump in and help out.”
Ridgway said he very quickly realized that an antique store was the perfect venue for also selling books.
“There is a nice harmony between the amazing hand-crafted pieces of all sorts and books in general,” he said, “but especially the classics, which I love.”
From artwork and clocks, to furniture and unique gifts, Ridgway’s store offered an assortment of books, giving the Palisades a new place to purchase classic and contemporary works.
A longtime Palisadian, Ridgway has worked at multiple stores that furthered his knowledge, and love, of vintage items and books. Prior to taking over Collections Antiques, he worked at Crown Books on Sunset Boulevard and acted as manager shortly after. He also helped Katie O’Laughlin open Village Books.
With his own shop, he set out to sell the “best-of-the-best” books from his personal collection over the past 40 years.
“Certainly the book world has changed, and absolutely the retail experience has changed,” Ridgway said. “But there is a unique and enduring value to holding a physical volume and reading and re-reading as a personal act rather than on an impersonal screen showing computer-generated text.
“A bookstore allows someone to actually see the titles of what is available. To touch and browse and explore, and to see the connections, which are all important.”
Signs now placed across the storefront read, “Sadly we are closing this month.” The shop has announced a 50% discount on all books through the month of September.
“Dear friends … I thank you for your wonderful support [these] past two years,” a note signed by Ridgway read. “I will miss you.”
The closure comes about a year and a half after Amazon Books closed at Palisades Village in March 2022. Saint Laurent is anticipated to open soon in the space, which is at Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.
Magnolia Lafleur contributed to this report.
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