Tollbooth Antiques fire singes downtown Columbia economy

Columbia Borough has lost a major attraction in an antiques scene that local business leaders say has helped renew downtown tourism over the last decade.

Bill Kloidt, executive director of Columbia’s Economic Development Corp., said the fire at Tollbooth Antiques will have an economic impact on the borough, but it won’t keep antiques shoppers away.

“It’s just one less place that they’ll have to go to that was a very interesting market,” Kloidt said.

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• JACK PANYARD | Staff Writer

Tollbooth was one of the three antiques malls in close proximity that revived vacant commercial and industrial buildings near the Susquehanna River. Located at 215 Chestnut St., it was one of the first buildings visitors would see when crossing Veterans Memorial Bridge from York County.

Along with Burning Bridge Antiques Market at 304 Walnut St. and Bootleg Antiques at 135 Bridge St., Tollbooth has brought in visitors from surrounding counties and states, and provided a place for dozens of vendors to do business, Kloidt said.

Kloidt said the loss will be felt by businesses around the borough. It was common to see out-of-state license plates in the parking lot at Tollbooth.

“It was something that brought people into our town to stroll through the markets and then have a bite to eat at one of our restaurants. So I hope they can recover,” he said.

Tollbooth owners David and Sue Doolittle have been integral in building Columbia’s reputation for antiques, said Columbia Market House Manager Chris Vera. Doolittle was part of the group that opened Burning Bridge Antiques. Today, vendors from far around sell their antiques in Columbia because they know they will find a market for them, Vera said.

“We’re now probably one of the best places in the country for antiques, and he helped jump-start that business,” Vera said of David Doolittle.

Vera said David Doolittle also helped revive the town’s former telephone company into what is now the Columbia Kettle Works craft brewery and taproom. Given Doolittle’s reputation for renovating unused industrial properties in the borough, Vera said he is optimistic that the Doolittles will find a way to reopen Tollbooth in some form.

“They’ve invested in Columbia, and I don’t see them leaving,” he said.

Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz, Burning Bridge Antiques Market owner Don Murphy, and EDC Lancaster County did not immediately return calls for comment Friday.

Editor's note: an earlier version of this story did not contain EDC Lancaster County's full name.