Holly Welcomes New 
Owners to Holly Antiques (video)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, April 1, 2017)
Holly, MI – With over 100 guests, charming music, incredible bouquets and an eclectic spread of appetizers and desserts, the new owners of Holly Antiques made an elegant first impression with their ribbon cutting Friday.
Jerome Raska and Robbin Yelverton purchased Holly Antiques from longtime owner Barb McKay. They’ve been reconfiguring the space and will soon be adding a new store in part of it – Blumz North.
Raska and Yelverton own Blumz by JRDesigns in Ferndale and Detroit. They are award-winning florists and leaders in their profession, offering full service wedding and event 
planning, tuxedo rental, and event space.
With Holly Antiques they plan on continuing a tradition of excellence in antique sales, with experts on staff to verify authenticity, and a variety of items to appeal to many tastes and needs. The walls and display areas are filled with artwork, furniture, clothing, books, kitchenware, gizmos and gadgets, jewelry, historic documents, artifacts and more.
Upstairs the stained-glass framed windows overlook Holly’s historic downtown. The building itself is over 150 years old. It began as a hardware store and for the past 50 years has been Holly Antiques.
“It was built in 1865 and turned into an antique store, and we antiques are running it,” McKay said as she joined Raska and Yelverton on a raised platform in front of the store.
Other guests of the evening included Director of the Holly Chamber of Commerce Andrea Silvis, DDA Chairperson Dick Rossell, Holly Village President Jim Perkins, and Village Manager Jerry Walker.
County Commissioner Bob Hoffman also spoke at the ribbon cutting. “You could hop on a plane, be blindfolded, fly anywhere in the United States, and you wouldn’t know where you’re at because you’ve got Home Depot there, the Walmart there,” Hoffman said. “But I think people are realizing now the importance of a small town. I think people are coming back to this. We really have to support the small businessman. We have to commend him for his investment in the community. And Holly, I’ve always said this, is the last front tier of Oakland County.”
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson also attended, congratulating the men on their new store and welcoming them to the Village where she has lived since 1976.
Blumz North, the flower shop component of the enterprise, is expected to open in the fall as renovations are still underway.
Holly Antiques is located at 118 S. Saginaw Street, Holly, MI 48442. Check them out online at www.hollyantiques.com.
