NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The promoters of the Heart of Country Antiques Show have announced they will end the event after a run of 33 years.

Susan Kramer Hunkins wrote in a letter to antique dealers that she and her husband, Steve, “have decided to turn our attention toward other pursuits and will close this marvelous adventure on the heels of the most recent and very successful Heart of Country 2014.”

In the letter she recounted how her parents, Libby and Dick Kramer, founded the national show in Tennessee and made it a success, even though the idea of staging a large antiques show outside of New England was unheard of in the early 1980s.

“It was a tremendous risk, but everyone soon learned there was a hungry market out there just waiting for Heart of Country to be born,” Hunkins said, adding, “Over the next three decades, Heart of Country spawned careers, inspired new Nashville show promoters and made for some amazing connections, momentous happenings and memorable bests.”

The annual event, held in February, was the anchor show of what became known as Antiques Week in Nashville.

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