Zyla's Auction Postponed to Nov. 15

A low turnout of serious bidders forced the postponement of the auction of a well-known property in town Wednesday morning.

On Oct. 19, Paul McInnis Inc., an auction house and real estate company out of Hampton, was supposed to auction three parcels of land own by the Zyla family, who formerly owned Zyla's a retail store and auction center, however Paul McInnis announced to a group of about a dozen people gathered in the parking lot for the 11 a.m. auction that it was postponed to Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. “at the advice of the owners' attorney.”

The majority of those people gathered were casual observers, friends of the Zylas' and frequent visitors of the store during its more than 50-year history in town.

Jack and Gary Zyla were both there as well with their wives.

Following the announcement that the auction would be delayed, Dorothy Zyla, Jack's wife, said she would have liked to be able to hold the auction today and get it over with.

“It's time,” she said, her eyes filling up with tears. “It's huge. There are too many emotional things.”

She said it's been a long time coming, since the store closed in 2008, remarking that it's not easy to own a commercial property that isn't making any money.

Jack Zyla said the auctioneers didn't feel they had the number of bidders it would take to make it a worthwhile auction, despite its being advertised online and in local papers as well as in the New York Times and the Boston Globe.

“It's hard,” Zyla said. “You try to hold an auction to get rid of this place, and Lowe's announces it's closing eight stores. It seems like a sign of the times.”

But Jack said there are a couple of interested buyers who couldn't be at the auction today and they hope holding the auction next month will give those people, and more, the opportunity to get to the auction.

Zyla's, which closed in 2008, 54 years after the late John Zyla first opened shop, was a beloved store in town, described as a place where you could find just about anything.

In addition, Zyla's held auctions on the weekend of anything from Cabbage Patch dolls to lava lamps.

“If they didn't have it, you didn't need it,” said Bob L'Heureux, an 18-year part-time employee who helped out at the auctions on the weekends.

The auctions were huge, pulling in crowds and tour buses from Rhode Island. At the holidays, the store was packed with thousands of shoppers hungry for a deal.

Now, the building that was once was busting at the seams, stands vacant and run down, awaiting a new owner.

The store was a victim of giants like Walmart and Target, speculated Frank Twardosky, who came to observe the auction and reminisce about the good old days with a group of his friends.

“I would like to see a nice Market Basket come in here,” Twardosky said.

He's not alone. On Facebook, Merrimack residents have called for Market Basket to rescue the property where Zyla's, in its heyday, made 526 Daniel Webster Highway one of the busiest places in town.

The three parcels of land that make up the Zylas' property are just more than 12.5 acres combined and include two parcels with buildings including the 65,354 square foot retail center and an 11,199 square foot office building. A third parcel with an address of 6 William St. is vacant but available for commercial development. More information about the property and rescheduled auction can be found PaulMcInnis.com.