“ORIGINAL ROUND TOP ANTIQUES FAIR” UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

  

The show that started it all over 50 years ago, the Original Round Top Antiques Fair, is now under new ownership.

The Original Round Top Antiques Fair along with the Big Red Barn, the event center where the fair takes place, were purchased by Houston based real estate developer Paul Layne of Layne Property Owners.

Layne bought the property from longtime owner Susan Franks for an undisclosed price.  It contains 24 acres, three retail buildings, and 64,000 square feet of tenant space for vendors.

This is the second big purchase in the area for Layne Property Owners.  They had previously acquired Blue Hills back in 2018.

Layne’s children, Corey Layne and Stephanie Layne Disney, improved and rebranded the venue while also adding over 40,000 square feet of additional shopping space. Since then, Blue Hills has increased its attendance by an impressive 39%.

They are also going to be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the Original Round Top Antiques Fair and the Big Red Barn.

The original fair was started by the late Emma Lee Turney in 1968, and has grown into one of the largest antiques festivals in the country that includes nearly 100 independently-run venues that stretch out over 11 miles along Highway 237.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the small town of Round Top swells from a population of 90 to a few hundred thousand people.

Visitors travel from all over the country to shop the unique Texas event which include antiques, art, and home décor that are displayed in barns and hay fields.

This year’s Fall Show runs October 15-29.