Times are a-changing, it brought the 80’s song from REO Speedwagon into my head.

After spending 32+ years in a contract with the City and County of Denver as their auctioneers, I would dare to say we were one of the longest-serving contractors they ever had – not bad for a small business. This all started with my father, Ray Fenter,  and his company Ray Fenter & Associates. Once he retired to Arizona, I was happy to take over the company and continue building on his success.  My husband and I later renamed our company to Schur Success Auction and Appraisal, Inc., and eventually opened our United Country – Schur Success Realty & Auction business.

The end of July marked the end of a long history for our company. We were proud to be part of the ever changing times with Denver.  I am proud to say we helped sell many notable items over the years, like the old Stapleton Airport, McNichols Arena, and the old Mile High Stadium.

We sold everything from baggage systems to chairs, signs, snowplows, and anything that we could from Stapleton. During the McNichols auction, we sold the huge screens that hung above the ice, the very large “A” for the Avalanche, and even the doors to the locker rooms!  I remember them selling very well, each marked with either the Avalanche or the Nuggets – we couldn’t have enough of those doors!   My dad made the news and the headlines many times selling these two huge projects.

During the old Mile High auction, I remember selling all the kitchen items in all those special areas where we used to order food.  In the basement, we sold the cash counting areas, and we even capitalized on selling Denver Bronco seats!

Speaking of seats, well sort of… we conducted the very first on-line auction that the City and County of Denver ever held by selling the “benches” from Red Rocks!  Yes, folks, the 6 x 12 wooden benches!  We had people asking for specific ones!  I never thought that a piece of wood would sell for so much! Some of those dried, old boards brought over $1500…each!

We held many jewelry auctions, Bike and warehouse auctions which included police evidence and lost and found DIA items, and we sold parts of the old main library so they could complete the new library.  We had many fleet auctions selling large equipment from DIA, snow plows, street sweepers, garbage trucks, firetrucks, and police cars.  If Denver had it, we sold it.

 

 

We conducted many auctions for the Department of Finance where we sold restaurants and businesses that failed to pay their taxes.  Some were huge successes, while for most part, we just covered the taxes owed.  Some that came to mind were well known, high-end restaurants, like the old Ruth Chris Steak House with a large amount of fine wines. The old Alice Cooper’s in LoDo and recently Toby Keith’s Bar in Northfield. When it comes to these type of auctions, it was the local owners that failed to keep up with their obligations.  It’s the franchise owner, not the name behind the business, that was responsible.

During all these years, the most consistent of any have been two auctions that come to mind.  First would be the annual Buffalo Herd auction we sold in March each year.  We sold the yearlings of the great herd from Yellowstone that Denver owns and has two areas where the herds roam, Daniels Park, and up in Genesse Park.

The Denver Auto Impound Auction which we all call the “CarPound”, we sold consistently every two weeks for all these years.  We have sold roughly 100,000 abandoned and confiscated, seized and City cars.  This one I will miss the most because it was a routine every other Wednesday.  It’s going to feel weird this week not going to the auction.

We will miss being a part of adventure that we have shared with Denver, but times are moving on, and we can no longer afford to keep it going.  We wish the new Auctioneers all the best.

For us, we are focusing on many things, including continuing doing other car auctions for several private towing companies.  We still are one of just a few that bid on the State of Colorado Department of Revenue Auctions, and we are venturing into the world of Bankruptcy auctions.  The Real Estate side of the business is growing both in traditional listings as well as auctions.  We see a new future and new growth in our business.

I want to thank Denver and all the wonderful people that we have worked with over the years, George, Jim, Kate, Pam, Mike, and most recently, Kris. You all have become lifetime friends. Luckily, we’ll still see many of our buyers and bidders at other auctions.

As Bob Hope was known for saying – “Thanks for the memories”.

 

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