If it wasn’t already official, it is now. Yesterday’s and the place is no more.
Nearly 100 people including previous employees, local business owners and memorabilia collectors attended an auction held by Salvadore Auctions, Inc. on Saturday, October 26th to bid on everything from beer taps to chairs to the framed photographs.
The three hour auction included approximately 315 lots and brought in according to our records approximately $28,000 for Richard and Maria Thorn who owned Yesterday’s and The Place for 41 years.
The building was recently sold and the two didn’t have the option to renew their lease, which ends on October 31st, 2015.
Many times throughout the day, Michael Savladore, (President of Salvadore Auctions) recalled memories of memorabilia and equipment in the restaurant from times spent as a customer at the restaurant.
Whoever you were and whatever brought you to the auction, it was a bittersweet day. More than once there were tears shed by former employees and loyal patrons.
The auction started with two signed menus by Richard & Maria Korn from 9/26/15, the last night of food service. The couple left a heart-felt note on both menus thanking folks for their patronage. The two menus were auctioned off for $175 a piece with proceeds benefiting two local charities, the Potter League for Animals and the Island Moving Company.
The bar in what used to be called “The Place” (front room) fetched $1,700, while the bar in the main restaurant brought in $2,000.
Other notable items that were auctioned off were the letters spelling out Yesterday’s on the front of the building (bought for $125), the “Center Hotel” sign from the movie Amistad (bought for $375), the infamous Yesterday’s sign on stained glass (bought for $400), the framed panoramic photograph from Newport Historical Society of Fourth Of July 1920’s passing parade in Washington Square (bought for $1,400) and the 9/11 tribute US Flag (bought for $400).
There was a very special moment shared when Matthew Goddard purchased the Paul Goddard hand carved cedar shell and skull located in the back corner of the restaurant for $900 with his mom standing with him.
Winning bidders have until Wednesday to remove the items from the property before the lease ends on Saturday, October 31st.