It happens all the time when driving south on Route 130 in Florence, New Jersey. You pass the endless chain of Wawas, Dollar Stores, strip malls and – wait! Was that a giant elephant next to the 16-foot statue of Mary from Sister Act??? You have now arrived at Obnoxious Antiques, a place where thousands of unique antiques and collectibles from amusement parks, circuses, carnivals and roadside attractions are available for rental and purchase.
Early Web Adopter
The genius behind this unusual eccentric business is John Polito. Now in his 70’s, Polito is a true Jersey boy. Although he wasn’t born here, he has lived all his life in New Jersey. His business is the result of his hard work and vision to build an internet site with this unique inventory 28 years ago, when the internet was new. He was one of the first dealers to put his merchandise on a website and he attributes much of his success to the early adoption of the web.
Boardwalk Days
Polito spent his summers at the Jersey shore in Seaside. His grandfather owned a parking lot across the street from the old Chatterbox Bar. He has fond memories of parking cars for Jerry Lee Lewis and other 50’s icons while working in the summer. Maybe it’s not such a stretch to imagine that all those summers spent on the boardwalk at Seaside in the arcades gets into a person’s DNA somehow.
Pinball Wizard
After graduating college Polito thought he might open a bagel shop. He also had a great idea for a package/shipping store that he never followed up on. It wasn’t until he bought an old pinball machine in 1969, or 70 that he really found his niche. He restored the old machine and sold it for a hefty profit. Polito then learned that Smith Amusements was closing and he found the widow and was able to purchase the estate. Originally Polito had another partner and formed JNB Amusements. Polito ran the business with his father for many years, selling the more unusual items.
Forming an Alliance
When Polito’s father became ill, it was time to look for additional help. Joe Csik was a frequent visitor to the shop and a friendship later became a partnership. Although Joe still works full time as Director of Driver Support for a global transportation company, he is integral to the logistics of the business. Who better to figure out how to move a 40-foot-tall Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck? Csik and Polito have the best stories, because each object really is a story on its own.
Closings are Opportunities
Obnoxious Antiques is currently in the news because of their recent acquisition of the contents of Gillian’s Wonderland from the Ocean City Pier. There is still a lot of debate about the fate of the land that was once the amusement park, but as far as the contents of park you can purchase; a giant lobster, a huge scorpion, a lobster in a trap and so much more that originally came from this beloved shore attraction.
Mandatory Bruce Connection
They are also shooting another Springsteen movie in Asbury Park this winter, and Obnoxious Antiques is busy providing the studio with essential props for these shore-based scenes. In addition to this current movie, they have provided props for Netflix’s The Irishman, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and other productions from Disney and other studios. With Netflix moving into Fort Monmouth, the need for prop rentals is expected to expand dramatically. At present, Polito estimates that about 30% of the business comes from prop rentals.
Sideshow Treasures
Who buys this stuff?? That was my initial question when I started preparing for this meeting. Most of the purchasers are middle aged. In the beginning Polito said, it was mostly people wanting arcade machines for the home. The internet has broadened the audience and opened up the world for collectors of not only the machines but circus items, carnival memorabilia and sideshow treasures. They recently acquired the contents of Ward Hall’s Traveling Sideshow. You are too late for the alien corpse oddity but several of his Sideshow Barker Jackets are still available for Christmas.
Imaginative Inventory
If you have that hard to shop for person on your list, you may want to consider visiting Obnoxious Antiques for that one-of-a-kind gift. You have to call to make an appointment. John And Joe are always out hunting for the next thing and as Polito says, “we always have something in the hopper.” The items they have in their three storage units (two more are located in Burlington) range in price from $500 – best offer. The elephant in the warehouse is leaving for $19,000 from a Bob’s Big Boy. They sold a Muffler Man for $32,000. They really do have something for everyone here.
What’s in a Name?
The other question I had to ask was about the name. Initially the business was set up as JNB Amusements, when they decided to specialize in the unusual, they needed a new brand. Right about that same time Polito and Csik were finishing up the sale of a giant automated foot. It was 22 feet long, 11 feet high and 8 feet wide, had a skin-like texture and the big toe wiggled. They sold it to a winery in Massachusetts. Csik lobbied hard for the name Obnoxious Antiques, and you could say he won by a leg!
Believe It or Not
Polito has a great story about the two-headed cow from Thomas Joyland’s Traveling Carnival. He first saw the live cow, Daisy May, as a college student in West Virginia in a traveling sideshow. In an amazing twist of fate, he found her 40 years later as a statue that had been taxidermied and restored perfectly. She now belongs to Ripley’s Museum for an undisclosed price.
Memory Keeper
Polito loves his job. He has been buying and selling unusual collectibles for 54 years now. He has created his own little unique business niche and he is kind and generous with his time and his stories. He is interested in preserving not just these precious objects – but also the disappearing history. Polito is not merely a merchant selling pieces of the past – he’s more of an archivist, collecting and preserving our shared history. A walk-through Obnoxious Antiques is like a walk-through time, and it’s a blast!
Sue graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in English back when you could still get a degree for reading great literature. She spent nearly 40 years working in the Sales & Marketing field with companies ranging from non-profits to small businesses to Fortune 100 Corporations. Most recently retired after nearly 20 years with S & P Global, she is now free to pursue her true passions for hiking, writing and photography. Sue was born and raised in New York State. As a New Jersey transplant, her passion for the special blend of culture and nature that is uniquely Jersey is what Sue loves to share with the world. She has one grown son that she is insanely proud of. Her husband of many decades is an amazing partner both in life and hiking. When not out exploring, Sue is most likely at home reading a novel with her dog.
