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Mountain Home’s popular vintage advertising antique store, Red Star Antiques, has expanded and moved into a new location after owner Joey VanMatre purchased the former building of Earl’s Antiques.
Red Star Antiques, whose owner has appeared on Ozark Pickers and Gas Monkey Garage, has also been visited by actor Russell Crowe.
“I collect vintage advertising,” said Joey VanMatre, owner of Red Star Antiques. “1950s soda machines. Gas and oil. I’ve been doing it since I was about 15 years old.”
Now housed in a 10,000 square foot building right down the road from its previous location, Red Star Antiques has expanded to 40 rooms with over 77 showcases on its floor, featuring items from over 40 vendors. Vendors for the antique store come from different states, including Missouri and Illinois.
The store’s previous location only had 1,300 square feet available for VanMatre to use.
“I actually have less space here than I do over there,” VanMatre said.
Red Star Antiques first opened five years ago after VanMatre moved his goods from his storage unit on his personal property to a storefront to set up a central location for his business.
Joey VanMatre poses with a vintage Coca Cola machine inside of Red Star Antiques newest location. Photo by Chris Fulton/MHO.
A shot of Red Star Antiques vintage style sign on US Highway 62 in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Photo by Chris Fulton/MHO.
A photo of Red Star Antiques new location. Joey VanMatre moved his store into Earl’s Antiques after purchasing the building from Robert and Carol Earl. Photo by Chris Fulton/MHO.
An old vintage gas pump outside of Red Star Antiques iconic storefront in Mountain Home. Photo by Chris Fulton/MHO.
Before the opening of Red Star Antiques, the popular antique trader was out on the road, making his living doing 30-40 antique shows a year in places like Chicago, Illinois, and Sevierville, Tennessee.
“When I first opened up over there, the first year was slow,” VanMatre said. “Believe it or not, I lost my original buyers because I went commercial, and they didn’t like it. After that, it just seemed to pick up a lot. We have a swap meet here twice a year as well.”
Born in Louisiana to a U.S. Air Force family, VanMatre spent much of his youth growing up in Mountain Home and the surrounding areas after his family moved back to the city in 1997.
At the young age of 15, VanMatre stepped into the antique business for the first time after purchasing a Coca-Cola machine in Cotter for $750.
“I saw it one day and it kind of intrigued me,” said VanMatre. “And next thing you know, I bought it for $750. I paid way too much money. I sold it for $300-400. I lost my tail on that one.”
While Red Star Antiques still features many iconic machines and signs that VanMatre loves to collect, the store has been filled with various items, including historic military gear, furniture, clothing, silverware, hunting and fishing items, blue and white, and jewelry. The store even features handmade train cars from Jimmy McNally of Bruno, Arkansas.
Still, for some, the main draw of VanMatre’s store will be its signs, which attract people from all over the state.
One neon sign, a City Café Coca Cola sign that VanMatre bought for his store in Hoxie, Arkansas, has drawn the attention of several shoppers who remember eating at the café, including the daughter of the previous owners.
A shot of City Cafe’s neon Coca Cola sign. The cafe sign, which was located in Hoxie, Arkansas, still brings out comments and memories from guests who had once eaten at the cafe. Photo by Chris Fulton/MHO.
A shot of some of the 77 showcases inside Red Star Antiques. While originally focused on vintage signs, machines and oil pumps, VanMatre is expanding his stores inventory list to include a variety of items. Photo by Chris Fulton/MHO.
“Had a lady come in here Friday,” VanMatre said as he gestured to the sign. “Her parents own that store, that café. It was in Hoxie, Arkansas. I’ve probably had four or five people come in here since it’s been hanging there that can remember and relate to that sign. It’s already been on Facebook twice in two weeks, from people knowing and remembering what it was.”
Red Star Antiques is located at 3260 US 62 in Mountain Home. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact (870) 405-3024.
