Taylor's Antique Mall—An Ellicott City Institution—to Close in January

It's hard to miss Taylor's on Main Street. It's one of the largest antique stores in Historic Ellicott City, comprising three floors and multiple storefronts smack in the middle of Main Street.

But in January, Taylor's will close.

"It's bittersweet because we had a very loyal staff and loyal vendors and we're all going to miss it," said Richard Weintraub, who is handling the sale of the estate.

"We're still in a state of shock," said Sue Hurd, the manager at Taylor's. She said employees were notified about the closing on Aug. 1. "It's unfortunate for [antique] dealers and Ellicott City."

Taylor's Antique Mall is the life's work of Marvin Sachs, who Weintraub referred to as an informal mayor of Main Street.

Sachs purchased the store from his uncle when it was a furniture business sometime in the 70s. He sold furniture out of the building until around 1988, when he closed the furniture store and converted the historic building, which was built in 1890, to an antique mall. The name of the store comes from I.H. Taylor, who operated a department store in the building until 1942, according to Taylor's website.

Sachs operated the mall for 40 years until his death, in August of 2012.

"Marvin was a great gentleman, he's the one to be missed," said Weintraub, a longtime friend of Sachs. "[He] was a unique character. He would go up and down the street and talk to people, say 'how are you doing?'"

Since Marvin's death, the store continued to operate, selling antiques from over 60 vendors.

But this summer the building was sold to local real estate developer Donald R. Reuwer, who said in an email he doesn't have any firm plans for the building.

"The building needs to be overhauled," said Weintraub, "it was a good time for [Sachs'] estate to sell the building."

Weintraub said the building was sold after a combination of factors. He said rising prices and costs were one reason, a second was that more antique buyers are shopping online, and a third was that no one in the Sachs family was interested in running the antique mall.

"It's a beautiful location on Main Street," said Weintraub. "It's bittersweet that we have to leave. But, I have to represent the estate and this was the best thing to do for the estate.

"I believe the buyer is going to restore it, make it better, and I think that'll be great."