Joanna White's Charleston Estate Sale Business Thrives

A Childhood Love of Treasure Hunting Blooms Into a Charleston Estate Sale Empire

Just half an hour after opening on a recent October morning, the 6,000-square-foot space inside Citadel Mall was already buzzing with hundreds of customers, their eyes scanning rows of designer furniture, original artwork, and collectibles. This scene wasn’t a fleeting pop-up but the monthly reality of Gather at the Gavel, an estate sale that has become a part of Charleston’s resale economy. The business, which debuted in March, is the latest chapter in a story fueled by a simple passion for the hunt, The Post and Courier reported.

At the heart of this bustling marketplace is Joanna White, who moved to Charleston two decades ago with her husband, Everett. Now a mother of four, White has built a family enterprise that transforms the process of downsizing into a community event. For her, the business is a natural extension of a lifelong love affair with the unknown. “I’ve always loved the treasure hunt,” she told The Post and Courier. “You never know what you’re going to find, and that’s what makes it so exciting. I’ve always felt that beautiful things deserve another home.”

This isn’t White’s first foray into the world of curated secondhand goods. The story of Gather at the Gavel is really the story of a family’s connection to Charleston’s resale scene. Their journey began at the farmers market in Marion Square, then moved to the Charleston City Market. From there, they opened the Little Pink Gallery on Sullivan’s Island. Now, their portfolio includes three distinct operations, each tapping into a different facet of the market.

A Family Business Built on Passion

Gather at the Gavel stands as the family’s venture. It operates on a model: clients entrust White and her team with the contents of their estates, and the family facilitates the decluttering process by finding new owners for the items. During the October sale, thousands of pieces from 10 different estates filled the mall space. “Just because something no longer works for one family doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be perfect for someone else,” White explained, a philosophy that clearly resonates with the hundreds of shoppers who return month after month.

Joanna White's Charleston Estate Sale Business Thrives — Photo: yahoo.com

The family’s expertise, however, extends beyond the monthly estate sale. Their portfolio includes Gallery and Gavel Auction House, an operation run by daughter Clare and son Rett, which specializes in fine art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles. They also operate Warehouse 61, a showroom dedicated to art, pottery, and one-of-a-kind pieces. “First and foremost, it is a family business,” White emphasized, highlighting the nature of their work and the shared passion that drives it.

This diversification places the White family in Charleston's economy.

The Roots of a Treasure Hunter

To understand the business’s success, one must look back to White’s childhood in Savanna, Illinois. Her story isn’t one of corporate ambition but of a genuine, lifelong fascination. By the age of 8, she was already a seasoned auction-goer, tagging along with her father and buying treasures of her own. The entrepreneurial spirit kicked in early, as she and her sister ran garage sales so the two could buy clothes for school—a practical exercise in resourcefulness that would later blossom into a career.

This upbringing instilled in White a unique perspective on value and history. White’s ability to connect with customers, sharing the stories behind a piece of furniture or a piece of art, transforms a simple purchase into an experience.

Where Gather at the Gavel is accessible and bustling, Gallery and Gavel is a more deliberate affair. Warehouse 61, meanwhile, serves as a sanctuary for art lovers.

“I’ve always felt that beautiful things deserve another home. Just because something no longer works for one family doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be perfect for someone else.”

The success of Gather at the Gavel shows that people still want to touch and feel products and shop locally with others.

With the next Gather at the Gavel sale already scheduled for between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, 2026. Their journey from a small-town Illinois girl with a love for auctions to the head of a Charleston resale operation is a narrative of passion, family, and finding value in what others might leave behind.