While taking care to maintain its historical integrity, owners Alan Braswell, Donna Foster, and her brother Roy Foster, have renovated and transformed the building into their vision of what an auction house could be. That means making it as inviting and comfortable as possible to make the auction day experience an enjoyable one for everyone.
“This is going to be different from any other auction house in the metroplex,” said Alan. Key features include comfortable banquet chair seating, hardwood flooring, large screen monitors on the walls for better viewing of items, and WI FI access in the building. A full service café, The Railway Café, will be serving food and beverages on auction days.
On choosing to locate the auction house in Ennis, Donna said, “It’s a good location for business because it’s close to Dallas and Ft. Worth,” she said. “Ennis is like a junction between major cities.” Another reason they chose Ennis she added, is that it has the right atmosphere. “Ennis is so charming.”
Ennis resident Ronnie Morris says he can’t wait for them to open. Having worked with Alan at auctions in the past, Ronnie thinks this will be good for Ennis. “This will bring people from all over to Ennis.”
David Gregory, Certified Antiques & Art Appraiser and now the in-house appraiser for Ennis Auction House, agrees with Morris. “This is going to be such an asset to Ennis,” he said. “I think this area is just right for an auction house. It’s a refreshing change, and the space is just right.”
Walking through the doors of the Ennis Auction House, amid last minute preparations, you can almost feel the excitement in the air, the anticipation building as the days draw closer to the grand opening. It’s easy to understand why as you browse among the hundreds of collectibles and antiques that made the long journey from Ireland and now line the showroom floor. There are paintings, glassware, jewelry boxes, mantel clocks, and of course furniture that ranges from the uniquely ornate to the more simple lines of an Irish famine chair. “The items in this first auction are a very eclectic collection,” said David. “There’s Art Deco, 18th century pieces, Victorian pieces – something for every ambiance.”
While the owners of Ennis Auction House are in the business of bringing pieces of history to potential buyers at a great value, that value can’t always be measured in dollars and cents. “Each piece tells a story,” said Roy. “It’s about bringing people not just a great value, but what I call legacy pieces. They come with their own history, and then you make your family part of that history.”
The Ennis Auction House is about to make its own place in history, beginning with the grand opening auction on Saturday, January 31st at 11:00 am, with a preview beginning at 9:00 am. It will also be open for preview on Friday, January 30th, from 11:00 to 7:00 pm. Online and absentee bidding is available. Please call 972-872-9926 for details or visit the website for more information.
www.landmark-auction.com 
