There are probably a million quotes and sentiments regarding the passing of an era and the changing of the guard. Change is never easy and often hurts…. A LOT! Downtown San Mateo may just be in it’s infancies of a renaissance! Big changes! Why, because a new property owner has come to town and is buyin’ up the place! Yes, a very sad ending indeed for the likes of Collective Antiques and perhaps others and we will mourn their departures.

Mr. Tim Draper of venture capitalist fame, has purchased the Benjamin Franklin, as many of you may know, and the Wachovia Bank building on 4th Ave. And now, Mr. Draper has purchased the Collective Antiques Building. Built in the early 1930’s it was originally the Levy Brother’s retail shop and remained so into the 1950’s. The Levy Brother’s originally sold groceries, hardware, men’s furnishings, dry goods, millinery, apparel, and toys. Since 1994 this Tudor Revival style building has housed the Antiques Collective.

Now this building’s fate is a bit unknown but Mr. Draper is expanding his vision of his school, “The Draper University of Heroes”. His school is dedicated to feeding the minds of young entrepreneurs. Yes, a sad day indeed for the those of us who have enjoyed the Collective over the years. They will be throwing a big going-out-of-business bash at the end of September. Look for it! What a great way to end an era and perhaps one day, one of Draper’s students will remember how much they loved downtown San Mateo. Perhaps they are the new guard.