BY DEREK LAND
FOR THE OBSERVER
SALEM — Tucked away in the historic heart of Salem, the Salem Auction House has become a cornerstone of the community. Owners Joey Knight and John Lian said their shared passion for auctions and a commitment to giving back have transformed what began as a hobby into a growing local business.
“Auction 431 South found its new home as the Salem Auction House in October 2023, after relocating from Phenix City where they had operated for the last 6 years,” said Knight. “This building is historic. It was the original general store and cotton warehouse for Salem back when Salem was what Opelika is today.”
The partners said the rich history of the building serves as a fitting backdrop for the stories that unfold each week at the auction.
Lian, who became a partner after being a customer for years, explained that the move was a necessary step for growth.
“We were pushing the limits in our old building — it could only fit about 95 people,” he said. “Here, we can seat 140, and even this space gets packed some nights. Our biggest goal is to give people that ‘wow’ factor when they walk in.”
The partners credit the move with helping them attract a wider audience.
“We’ve had buyers and sellers from Nashville, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, depending on what’s up for auction,” said Knight.
When asked what items can be sold at the Salem Auction House, Knight and Lian agreed: almost everything.
“We sell anything and everything except vehicles and firearms,” said Knight. “Items range from macaroni and cheese to high-value antiques. One of our weekly traditions is posting 150 photos of upcoming auction items on the Facebook page, which has over 6,000 followers.”
“Networking plays a big role in sourcing items,” Lian said. “We don’t have to look for sellers —they find us. The auction attracts everyone from local resellers to traveling vendors.”
Part of the fun, said Night and Lian, is the adventure of sourcing items. For example, they once discovered a giant Coca-Cola sign on a back road in Alabama they wanted to buy.
“We knocked on the door, and the owner was eating ribs when he answered the door,” Lian said. “We ended up buying a truckload of stuff from him.”
“We’ve got one lady who only buys glassware to sell at the Beaches Yard Sale and another guy who’s all about fishing gear,” Knight added.
The popularity of some items comes as a surprise for the long-time owners.
“At first I thought, ‘If I wanted Dollar General stuff, I’d go there,’” said Lian. “But it helps pay the bills, and people love it. Another gentleman gets a bunch of Amazon and Target overstock, and bidders love that they can get new items for much less than they would pay at the store.”
The Salem Auction House is no stranger to extraordinary finds. Lian shared one unforgettable experience involving a tin canteen dating back to the Civil War.
“I bought it for $5 and sold it for $500 — then I found out it was worth $25,000,” he said with a laugh.
At Christmas, a favorite tradition is the auctioning of an empty box during the annual holiday sale.
“It starts as an empty box, and throughout the night the seller tries to fill the box and meet or exceed the amount the box was purchased for,” Knight said. “Last year, the box sold for $3,000, and it ended up being worth over $5,000.”
“The excitement of the auction process is what keeps the energy alive. When you’ve got four or five people bidding on an item, it pumps your adrenaline. It’s just so much fun,” he said.
But he said running the auction house hasn’t been without its hurdles.
“A lightning storm once caused $17,000 in damages, fried the electrical system and caused cosmetic damage to the building,” Knight said. “We had to replace everything — PA system, computers, even the HVAC.
“The COVID-19 pandemic presented another major challenge,” he explained. “We were shut down for 16 weeks, but we adapted by doing Facebook Live auctions. Honestly, we did better online than with a full house.”
Knight and Lian said giving back is at the core of Salem Auction House’s mission.
“We have supported numerous causes, from hurricane relief to Wreaths Across America,” Knight said. “We were even fortunate enough to be able to fill a 20-foot trailer twice with supplies for hurricane victims in North Carolina.”
“We also take pride in contributing to Toys for Tots, with this year’s donations filling two sheriff SUVs,” Lian added. “We’re blessed, and if we can help someone, we’ll do everything in our power.”
The partners feel their personal connections with customers set their auction house apart.
“You might find another auction house with better stuff, but you won’t find owners who care about you like we do,” Knight said.
“We’ve got people who come here just for the social connection,” Lian said. “There’s one guy who used to come every Friday night but had to leave at 9 p.m. for home dialysis. Now he’s bedridden, and we miss him.”
As they plan for the future, Knight and Lian said they hope to host larger, multi-day auctions to attract collectors nationwide.
“We have the space for high-value items, but it takes time to gain that trust,” Knight explained.
The Salem Auction House is open every Friday with gospel singing kicking off the evening at 5 p.m. (6 p.m. ET) and the auction beginning at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. ET). Food trucks are on site each week so customers can grab dinner or a snack.
The process to visit is simple. Upon arrival, those who want to participate as a bidder register at the front desk with a photo ID to receive a bidder number, then get ready for a night filled with food, music and unique finds.
Salem Auction House is located at 50 Lee Road 175. Follow the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/salemauction for updates and photos of weekly items.
