Auction antics

March 13, 2008
Portage Daily Graphic
Written by: Shane Gibson

Dave Rodgers of Diamond Auction Services in Portage calls an auction held in Boston Pizza’s lounge on Tuesday night. Rodgers auctioned off all of the memorabilia that used to hang on Boston Pizza’s walls before the restaurant renovated; $12,889 was raised, and all money went to the Portage Terriers and Portage Plains United Way. submitted photo

It was all about good food, good times and fast talking on Tuesday night, as the Boston Pizza in Portage la Prairie auctioned off the memorabilia that once hung on its walls.

“Lots of people expressed interest in regards to some of the pictures, and asked if we were going to be selling them at some point,” explained Boston Pizza franchisee Randy Davison. “So I thought that this would be the right thing to do.”

There was more than 150 items up for sale, including the pictures, neon signs, barstools and chairs that had been removed from Boston Pizza during their recently completed renovations. All the money raised went to the Portage Terriers and Portage Plains United Way.

“We’ve had a good relationship with the United Way in the past, and felt it was a great charity to support,” explained Davison. “As far as the Terriers go, I think it’s important to have an identity in every community, and I think that the Terriers help to provide that identity in Portage.”

The auction was held in the lounge at Boston Pizza, which was closed for the evening. Nearly 60 invited guests spent the night eating dinner and trying to outbid each other for the memorabilia.

Bidders paid anywhere from $100 for the items all the way up to $1,000, which is what Davison paid for a Montreal Canadiens banner that once hung in the lounge. A friendly bidding war was started when Davison told the crowd what he planned to do with the banner if he won

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