George Darrow is no stranger to the world of antiques, old toys and collectibles. You could even say it runs in the father. After all, George’s father was Chick Darrow, who opened what he claims to be the first collectible shop – Darrow’s Fun Antiques – in 1962 in the Upper East Side of New York City.

"In 1964, Japan found out who we were, because they did an article in U.S. News and World Report, and then collectible industry became global," Darrow recalls. "Then all of a sudden, people were saying, ‘Wow, I thought this stuff was crap!’"

The shop eventually closed after 40 years of business, and a few years later in 2005, George moved to Milwaukee along with his native Milwaukeean wife and his son because, according to him, "New York sucks." However, his antiquarian days are far from behind him, as he and partner Jason Royal Hart begin the process of reopening Jackpot Gallery, located at 825 E. Center St., in Riverwest, as an art gallery and collectible shop.

Opened in 2009 by then co-founders Sean Heiser and Kelsey Kaufmann, Jackpot Gallery served as a space for art exhibitions and events before eventually going defunct. Over the past three years, save for the occasional pop-up gallery or exhibition, the space had mostly stayed empty until Hart, who had just moved into the apartment above the gallery, and Darrow got to talking at Riverwest Radio across the street.

"He asked me what I thought about opening up a store in there, like a pop-up shop, and I said, ‘What?’" Darrow recalled. "It was out of left field, and I hadn’t had a shop since New York. My eyes rolled up inside of my head, and I went into the fetal position for a couple of minutes. And then I said OK, let’s go for it."

The two teamed up to get the space and create a vision for the new Jackpot Gallery, which, according to Darrow, has three main facets. Part of the new space will serve as an art gallery, whether the works by Darrow’s, by fellow gallery partner and Milwaukee artist Ann Powell’s, or by an outside artist. Darrow and Powell will also team up to sell vintage items, including memorabilia, toys and collectibles, while Hart, a software designer, will create custom vintage computer and video games. He has larger philosophical goals for the new shop and art gallery as well.

"I’m trying to raise the consciousness of the planet without being a know-it-all," Darrow explained. "I hope to add a little spice and a little light and a little enlightenment and fun to the world and to Milwaukee. I want to do poetry there and have, like, a Dada event. I want to do happenings. I want the store to be a happening in the Dada sense of it."

The store opened for a few early scattered days last month, including during Center Street Daze on Saturday, Aug. 1. Several books were for sale, and items such as an old Lite-Brite set and a retro fallout shelter sign decorated the shelves. According to Darrow, however, those days were basically rummage sales, with Darrow and Hart just unpacking some boxes of merchandise and items from both of their recent moves.

He expects Jackpot Gallery to officially open after Labor Day, with a few more rummage sales and open houses along the way as they prepare the space. And as for the fate of the name? Darrow says there are no current plans to change the name painted out front – even to something to match his family’s East Coast antiquarian roots.

"We’re just going to leave it on the wall because it seems to be a nice name, and what we’re doing is kind of like gambling," Darrow laughed. "It’s just fun. We’re just gonna try it and see what happens. I just don’t want to be a junk store."