NO SHAME! American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe stocks stores with new antiques including $2k statue after backlash over ‘expensive items’
NO SHAME! American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe stocks stores with new antiques including $2k statue after backlash over ‘expensive items’
Plus, Mike’s new career after announcing American Pickers is going on a hiatus
AMERICAN Pickers star Mike Wolfe has stocked his Iowa and Nashville stores with new pricey antiques after backlash over selling too many expensive items.
Mike, 60, owns Antique Archaeology in his hometown of Le Claire, Iowa and in Nashville, Tennessee.
The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal the new items customers could purchase from his stores.
The Antique Archaeology website listed a St. Therese Wooden Sculpture for a whopping $2,000.
A description of the antique that could be found in the Iowa store reads, “Brought from House On The Rock in Wisconsin is this beautiful hand-carved wood statue of Saint Therese.”
A similar sculpture of St. Catherine for $1,450 and Jesus for $1,200 are also available for purchase in the Iowa store.
Mike is charging $895 for a Mid-Century modern Tulip Table found at the Nashville location.
The description reads, “Elevate your space with the striking Red Tulip Table, a Mid-Century modern masterpiece that commands attention.
“This stunning table is the perfect fusion of form and function. The striking white base makes a statement, while the red top provides a beautiful contrast.
“Crafted with high-quality materials, it’s built to withstand the rigors of daily use.”
A 20th century Hunting Lithograph poster found in the Iowa store can set a customer back $600.
And then a Blue Harley Motorcycle toy is listed for $345.
The U.S. Sun previously reported on Mike’s most expensive antiques, including a blue and white 1903 Ford Sales and Service sign.
The price in-store for the antique is $8,000 and online for a discounted price of $7,500.
An old school soccer arcade game, similar to foosball, costs $4,900.
A red and green Coca-Cola sign is $3,500, while a St. Louis Plane sold in the Le Claire store is listed at $3,200.
CUSTOMER REACTION
Despite the cool picks, certain shoppers have slammed the stores for their expensive items.
One customer wrote of the Iowa store, “Place is way overrated and overpriced… Highly recommended to stay away from this place.”
A second said, “Overpriced items they found at estate sales that they dust off and then charge 3x the price. And that’s most stores…”
A third shopper ripped, “Super fun place!!! We arrived six minutes before close and the two ladies were in no hurry to move us along. If you are a fan of the show you will see many items that have been on the show.
“It is interesting the price picked is way different than their sale price. Of course they need to make a profit but jeepers. Ended up buying some stuff but wished I could have bought more. Great place to shop and some unique items. Go!”
As for the Tennessee store, one fan fumed, “Huge disappointment. Made a special trip to go there. Total waste of time.
“Very few items for sale and what were there was overpriced. Don’t waste your time…”
A second customer raged, “Waste of time, we love the show and were excited to get to go but it was a total waste of time!
“They have shot glasses, t-shirts, and can coozies and shop towels with their name on it but not much else. Very few antiques and the ones they have are super expensive! $1,500 for a small quaker sign.”
A third said, “The Antique Archaeology store left me unimpressed. A lot of mass-produced souvenir items for sale with a few antiques on display.”
“Would have been very disappointed if I came up just for this,” a fourth customer complained. “Was expecting an antique store, not an American Pickers gift shop.”
Mike has been caught marking up the cost of antiques he finds on American Pickers.
A 1947 Humpty Dumpty pinball machine is currently on sale for $1,500.
The U.S. Sun previously reported Mike offered $700 for the item on an episode of American Pickers.
He said on the show, “In 1947, this machine came out and introduced the flipper. Not just two, but six. The subject matter is interesting, it’s Humpty Dumpty, but the adult version of that.
“What would be expected is peeling, you know, pretty aggressively through here. But overall, I mean… It’s not bad.
“The historic value of this machine outweighs the actual value. When you think of how pivotal this machine was for collectors, as far as the evolution of pinball… this machine doesn’t command a lot of money.
“But still, this is the great-great-grandpappy of pinball wizard.”
In January, Antique Archaeology added the antique to their Le Claire, Iowa store with a price of $1,500, a 115 percent mark up.
OTHER BUSINESSES
Outside of picking antiques, Mike is the owner of multiple businesses and landlord of properties in Iowa and Tennessee.
The Iowa antique store is across the street from his new vacation rental Two Lanes Guesthouse and blocks away from properties he owns.
The vacation rental will be available for rent in April after a months-long delay.
He also has a vacation rental in Columbia, Tennessee.
The rental is down the block from his bike shop Columbia Motor Alley and other properties he manages.
SHOW BREAK
American Pickers fans may have to wait longer for new episodes, as Mike revealed in an interview with People that the show will take its “longest break” in 15 years.
“For 15 years, we have just been going and going and going,” he said. “I think we’re going to have at least four or five months off, so it’s going to be good.”
Mike explained how their longest break from filming has been “a month around Christmas.”
The History Channel star admitted to turning down “a lot of stuff” over the past 15 years because he was “overwhelmed.”
He explained of the time off, “It’s been 20 years of my life, American Pickers has been. And so now kind of slowing down into it, I’m reflecting a lot, like so many people do my age.
“That’s why really it’s a celebration of me turning 60 and I’m like, I’m doing this. You want to do another show? I’m doing another show. You want me to have a part in the scripted project? I’m doing it. I’m excited about the next chapter of everything.”
But fans won’t miss Mike on the small screen during the break, as he will star in History’s Greatest Picks.
One of Mike’s goals is to step into more scripted roles.
Mike stars in A Day of Reckoning, which hit theaters on March 28, with his girlfriend, Leticia Cline.
The couple flew into Los Angeles in March to attend the premiere.
He told The U.S. Sun on the red carpet, “I’m saying yes to more stuff now. You know what I mean?
