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Lani's Getting Ready To Close

Tampa Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Lani Czyzewski and husband Paul, background, get ready to close their shop, Lani's Antiques and Collectibles in the Terrace Plaza, for good. They plan to hold an auction Saturday to sell the remaining items.

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - Lani and Paul Czyzewski are primed to let go of a large part of their past.

The Czyzewskis will close the doors of Lani's Antiques & Collectibles in Temple Terrace following an everything-goes auction Saturday.

The shop they opened in Terrace Plaza in summer 2004 contains several of their parents' collections, including Lani's mother's Wedgwood china, pieces of her mother's and grandmother's hand-embroidered linens, crystal and silver.

It houses many of their families' antique kitchen utensils, furniture and old books, some more than 200 years old, that either Lani inherited after the sale of her parents' bookstore or to which Paul was heir.

Collectibles from Paul's family also include several of the longtime photography buff's more than 200 cameras and his newspaper reporter father's array of articles, movies and photos.

"We both came from families that never threw anything away," Lani said.

The Temple Terrace couple launched their antique business in a 600-square-foot storefront in South Tampa in 1997. When they learned seven years later of an opportunity to rent 4,000 square feet in a building owned by Temple Terrace in the redevelopment area at $429 a month, they jumped at the deal.

"It was a no-brainer, even though only one of its two air conditioners work, the roof leaks and the floor's linoleum is in disrepair," said Paul, who with Lani was made aware that the building and several others along 56th Street would be demolished before the developer began construction on the $45 million work-live-play project slated to get under way early next year.

In the years since, they've brought in "Doll Doctor" Jan Sutton, who restores and repairs antique dolls. They have subleased booth space for several artists and other collectors to sell their pieces.

Lani, a former Tampa Museum of Art employee, and Paul, a retired University of South Florida professor, also have hosted several classes, lectures and book signings at their shop. The store was the site of a gallery opening at which more than $10,000 worth of art was sold.

"Oftentimes people ... spend hours in the shop and we've met so many good friends," Lani said. "I've always liked that we were considered a destination."

The community responded so favorably to the couple's business that it earned the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce's 2006-07 Business of the Year award.

Earlier this year, when the city raised their rent to $1,243 a month, the Czyzewskis had a tough decision to make.

"I don't think we ever ran on the concept of profit but mainly to share a lot of our stuff with people," said Paul, who noted that the rent increase and the rising cost of utilities ultimately put them in a position to close the business and sell all its inventory, including the store's fixtures.

Rob Hennessee, a noted Tampa Bay area antiques auctioneer, will host the auction.

"It's going to be more like an estate sale because it's all our stuff," Lani said.

Sutton, who will move her "doll hospital" to the Baker Company General Store on Howard Avenue in Tampa, is sad about the store's closing.

"It's the only antique shop in Temple Terrace and there are some things in the store that Lani and Paul have practically grown up with," said Sutton, who described the couple as two of the nicest people she has known and very generous. "I hadn't known Lani and Paul until I started at the store, and it's been a wonderful experience for me."

Jose Galatz, an antiques scholar, often filled in for the couple when they took a day or a weekend off.

"What always struck me about Lani's shop was how many people were visiting an antique shop for the very first time because there was nothing intimidating about Lani's store," said Galatz.

Margie McClung, a Temple Terrace resident who rented booth space at Lani's, also hates to see the shop close.

"To me, it was the nicest shop in Temple Terrace, and because of Lani and Paul it was always such a friendly place," she said. "I don't think there is anything than can replace it."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Going-out-of-business auction

WHERE: Lani's Antiques & Collectibles, 8858 N. 56th St.

WHEN: 9 a.m. preview, 10 a.m. auction Saturday

INFORMATION: Call (813) 899-6010.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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