(Mobile, Ala.) Barry Keech and his son, Brian, visited Cafe Royal at Mobile's historic Van Antwerp Building.
But not to eat- the restaurant is now closed.
They came to bid on the restaurant's contents.
And the walked away with a huge photograph of... the van Antwerp building.
"My son here is planning to open a restaurant here in Mobile," said Barry, "and I think this is probably going on the wall."
Cafe Royal has called Van Antwerp home for nearly a decade.
Since that time is has been the only inhabitant of the historic old skyscraper, which has now been sold to the Retirement Systems of Alabama, RSA plans to rehab and restore the building.
So the cafe's furniture, coolers and even dishes and glassware, all hit the auction block Tuesday.
Chef Michael Blucas of the nearby Bienville Club, came to shop.
"We're looking for kitchen equipment, freezers, coolers, that sort of thing, glasses," he said.
But not everything was for sale.
Apparently one large item was taken off the list.
And it's a big part of the building's history.
It's the bar.
For decades it has anchored the first floor of the Van Antwerp, which originally was a pharmacy and soda fountain many moons ago.
In fact, it was listed as an item for auction, soda fountains and all.
Matt Presley was the auctioneer.
"One of the best things we have in the auction is this 65 foot mahogany bar, which is very rare these come up for sale," he said, "especially at auction."
Late Tuesday, an official with RSA said it was their position the bar and soda fountain were a part of the original building and were not for auction.
Still, the auction was considered a profitable success by the auctioneer, and a treasure trove for those who came to bid.
RSA plans to restore the first floor space as close as possible to it's original turn-of-the-century look.
