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Auction house marks decades of success
Liberty Auction celebrates 30 years with food, fun, friends
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Folks line up Saturday for plate-fulls of barbecue and baked goods during the 30th anniversary celebration at Liberty Auction in Pembroke. - photo by Crissie Elric

Dozens of buyers, sellers, employees and friends filled the Liberty Auction house in Pembroke on Saturday — but it wasn’t in hopes of being the highest bidder on a coveted prize or getting a good price on an item up for grabs.
The auction house was buzzing with folks who wanted to help celebrate 30 years of success with Matt Mattingly, owner of Liberty Auction and head auctioneer, and his wife, Lori Mattingly, auction house manager.
Matt Mattingly said the event was not only a celebration, it was also a way to show appreciation to those who have supported the business through the years.
“This is a celebration of 30 years and a ‘thank you’ to our consignors, buyers and sellers,” he said. “We have a 42,000-square-foot facility that we fill and empty every week — we feel like we’re doing it right after 30 years.
“And it’s ‘thanks’ to Pembroke for letting us operate here, and a ‘thank you’ to the (Pembroke) police department and (Bryan County) sheriff’s department. We have needed their services a few times.”
Mattingly started Liberty Auction in Hinesville but moved the business to its current space in Pembroke 15 years ago. The weekly consignment auction draws hundreds of people each Thursday, he said.
Attendees enjoyed barbecue, potato salad, vegetables and other fixings, along with live music and more. People came from surrounding areas to join the celebration and had nothing but positive comments to say about Liberty Auction and the Mattinglys.
Larry Walker and his wife, Marie, came from Richmond Hill for the event. Larry Walker said he has known the Mattinglys for a while and used to sell furniture at the auction each week.
“For them to still be in business with the economy we’ve seen is impressive. Matt’s got a niche, and niches are riches. He’s the best at what he does — as long as he does what Lori says,” Walker said with a laugh.

Read more in the Jan. 23 edition of the News.

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