Closing chapter for The Two Ravens Antiques and Vintage

AFTER a lifetime spent collecting unique treasures, Adam Bailey is preparing to close The Two Ravens Antiques and Vintage, leaving behind a beloved Keen Street shopfront that became a meeting place for collectors, customers and the wider community.

Bailey said he will close the doors of his much-loved shop in the near future due to health concerns, ending a journey shaped by a lifelong passion for collecting.

“My passion’s always been collecting, ever since I was little,” he said.

He said the thrill of discovering unusual pieces and finding items unavailable elsewhere had always driven him.

“I think it’s just the stuff that’s unique,” he said.

“I like the hunt…we try and find things that you’re just not going to find anywhere else, you’re not going to find in a general store.”

That passion became a business, beginning as Northern Rivers Collectables in a small Carrington Street shop.

Bailey later moved to Woodlark Street, where he operated a larger store alongside other traders, before the 2022 floods devastated the business.

“Like everybody I lost everything,” he said.

Determined to stay in the region, Bailey rebuilt from scratch, buying a building on Keen Street and reopening in 2023 under the name The Two Ravens Antiques and Vintage.

The shop has stocked everything from antique furniture and vintage wares to rare collectables spanning more than two centuries.

Some of the items currently on display include a handwritten book from 1793 by Captain Stone, written with a quill, alongside rare Simpsons characters, Star Wars figures and other curiosities Bailey said could not be found in other shops.

Bailey said he was particularly proud of his store’s window displays, which became a drawcard for visitors from near and far.

“That’s probably one of my proudest things is my windows, when people come past,” he said.

“It’s sort of like a little hub – just about every day I have someone sitting down or just having a general chat and catching up with friends.

“And it’s great seeing people travel from all around Australia and even contacts from overseas…who have come into my shop and go ‘Wow I’ve never seen anything like it’.”

Bailey said the public response to news of the closure had been overwhelming.

“I’ve had over 30,000 people send me a message or talk to me or in some way reach out,” he said.

“I feel very humbled.”

As he prepares to leave Lismore to be closer to his children and take life at a slower pace, Bailey said he would miss the local community.

“For me, being in Lismore, I think our community is probably one of the best communities I’ve ever lived in,” he said.

“We’re a very strong town.”

“I’ll miss the people downtown, and I’ll miss walking the streets.

“It’s a hard thing to do because I’ve been doing it for a long time.”

The Keen Street building will be offered for sale or lease once the shop closes.