About Us

Dwight and Christy Schannep, mall owners and accredited appraisers. To learn more about our appraisal services, click www.americanheirloomappraisers.com

OUR BACKGROUND:

Dwight grew up in Tucson. As a young rock collector, Dwight's first antique was a lawyer's stacking bookcase that his grandmother bought him to display his collection. After he graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in 1984, his hobby became collecting, restoring, and re-selling antiques.

Christy grew up in Anchorage, Alaska in a house full of antiques. Her mother's passion was buying and selling antique oil lamps as a side line. Both her parents retired and moved to Tucson, where Christy soon followed. She attended the University of Arizona, where she earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees .

Dwight and Chrisy Schannep opened their first antique store in 1990 named "Elephant's Trunk Antiques." After 3 years, they invited other dealers to join them, and established Tucson's largest antique mall (at the time) while only a couple of other smaller local antique malls and stores were in operation. Since opening, the mall has been home to over 500 different consignors, has employed dozens of Tucsonans, and has sold millions of dollars of antiques and collectibles! Several of their consignors have since opened their own antique shops and estate sale businesses.

Christy was a regular guest on the KTUC Antiques and Collectibles Hour radio show. Dwight has authored many articles for local antique magazines. Dwight and Christy were the featured "super collectors" on the Fox Cable Network "Personal FX Antiques and Collectibles Show" in 1997 (pre- Antiques Roadshow). Both Christy and Dwight have been featured on local news programs, as well as local, regional, and national printed literature. They were featured as the front cover story for the Antique Trader Weekly on January 13, 2010! Dwight has written several recent articles for the Antique Register (an Arizona based monthly antique publication).

As accredited appraisers, both Dwight and Christy have been trained and tested in appraisal theory, principles, procedures, ethics, and law through the International Society of Appraisers . They have extensive education and testing in the areas of antiques, residential contents, and fine art. They both have additionally been trained and tested in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice through the American Association of Appraisers.

The American Antique Mall is popular with local, national, and international shoppers. The world's largest gem and mineral show comes to Tucson each February. As a result, the American Antique Mall welcomes customers, year after year, from every corner of the world. Many celebrities visiting Tucson's health resorts, or filming movies, have been known to frequent the American Antique Mall. Their reputation was established, early on, for specializing in quality items from quality antique dealers.

You are personally invited to visit us and see the exciting and unusual treasures we have to offer!

Where we've been: A photo gallery

Christy Schannep at Elephant's Trunk Antiques (in operation 1990-1993).

Elephant's Trunk Antiques "Mall opening August" banner Summer of 1993

Elephant's Trunk Antiques "Moving Sale" banner Summer of 1993

Vacant Realty Building - Future site of American Antique Mall Summer of 1993

American Antique Mall awning going up in the summer of 1993

Christy Schannep, co-owner, taking a break during the major remodel of summer of 1993

Grand Opening crowd gathers at the front doors of the "new" American Antique Mall August 31, 1993

Welcoming the crowd: Evie Oxman to the left, Helen Schannep and Kelly Rose

Mall owners Dwight and Christy Schannep proudly cut the Grand Opening Ribbon

Pat Nash (left), Rick Rosenthal (center) and mall dealer Alan Fleischer (Green shirt)

Dwight's mother Helen and Dwight's wife Christy on Grand Opening Day

Mall dealer Jeannine Tucker (in black) and Phyllis Guibor (customer turned Employee)

Christy enjoys a moment with mall dealer Joel Thall on Grand Opening Day

Christy, Dwight, and Dwight's Mother Helen Schannep on Grand Opening Day

American Antique Mall dealer Emerson Clark proudly shows off his new booth

Future American Antique Mall dealer Bob Culver with Dwight on Grand Opening Day

Dwight explains antique furniture construction to customers on Grand Opening Day

Hank (far left) looking for fishing equipment on Grand Opening Day

Customer and future American Antique Mall dealer Fred Zwig on the far right

Customer Eldon Braun looking for fountain pens on Grand Opening Day.

Christy made it through the Grand Opening Day!

Front view of the American Antique Mall 1993

Front view of the American Antique Mall 2012