Are Mike Wolfe And Frank Fritz Co-Owners In Antique Archaeology? The Real Story Behind The Stores

Mr. Santiago Dooley 02 Aug 2025

Many fans of the popular show, American Pickers, often wonder about the business side of things. People frequently ask, is that, about the ownership of Antique Archaeology. It is a common question, you know, whether Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz shared ownership in the famous antique shop. This question, it seems, comes up quite a bit among those who follow their adventures across the country. We are here to clear up any confusion about who truly owns what in the world of antique hunting and selling, so to speak.

The show, which began its run on the History Channel in 2010, really brought the world of antique picking into many homes. It followed Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they traveled the United States. They were always, more or less, on the hunt for forgotten treasures. These items, once found, would then be sold through Mike Wolfe's business, Antique Archaeology. It's a journey that captivated a lot of viewers, honestly.

Understanding the roles each person played, and their individual business ventures, helps to answer the big question about ownership. Frank Fritz, for example, had his own separate store. Mike Wolfe, on the other hand, had his. We will look closely at the details provided, just to make sure everything is clear. This way, you will have a better idea of how their business relationship worked, apparently.

Mike Wolfe: The Vision Behind Antique Archaeology

Mike Wolfe's Personal Details

Frank Fritz: His Own Path and Partnership

Frank Fritz's Personal Details

The Show: American Pickers and the Hunt for Treasures
Unpacking the Ownership Question: Antique Archaeology
Frank Fritz Finds: A Separate Venture
Frequently Asked Questions About Antique Ownership

Mike Wolfe: The Vision Behind Antique Archaeology

Mike Wolfe, the person who created American Pickers and also stars in it, is the owner of Antique Archaeology. This is a key piece of information, you know, when thinking about the business. He has, in fact, two stores under this name. One of them is in Le Claire, Iowa, which is where the show often begins its travels. The other location, a bit further south, is in Nashville, Tennessee. These places are, more or less, central to his business operations.

The entire show, American Pickers, really focuses on how Mike Wolfe, who is 57 years old, gets his antiques. He and Frank Fritz, who was also 57 at one point, would go out and find these items. They would then, pretty much, bring them back for Mike Wolfe's business, Antique Archaeology. It was, in a way, a constant search to fill his stores with interesting pieces. Colby, for example, used to work as Mike Wolfe's office manager for Antique Archaeology. This shows, arguably, a clear business structure with Mike at the top.

Mike Wolfe's connection to antiques runs deep. He is the main person behind Antique Archaeology. The items they found on the road were, typically, meant for his specific business. His passion for finding old things is what drives the whole operation, in a way. He is, you know, the face of that particular antique selling enterprise. It is his vision that really shapes what Antique Archaeology is all about.

Mike Wolfe's Personal Details

Name	Mike Wolfe
Age	60 (as of a recent explanation)
Role on American Pickers	Star, Creator, Owner of Antique Archaeology
Business Owned	Antique Archaeology
Store Locations	Le Claire, Iowa; Nashville, Tennessee

Frank Fritz: His Own Path and Partnership

Frank Fritz, a reality television person and antique collector, also had his own business. He owned an antique store called Frank Fritz Finds. This shop is located in Savanna, Illinois. So, you see, he had his own place to sell things, quite separate from Mike Wolfe's. He opened Frank Fritz Finds in 2002. This was, in fact, before he got Antique Archaeology going with his childhood friend, Mike Wolfe. That particular moment, you know, served as a big reason for their partnership.

Frank Fritz was known to the world for his time on American Pickers. He was born on October 11, 1965, in Davenport, Iowa. On the show, he was Mike Wolfe's picking partner. They traveled the country together, looking for old things. While they worked together on the show, the items they found were, generally, for Mike's business. Frank, it seems, was fired from American Pickers a while back. This happened last month, according to some reports.

Sadly, Frank Fritz, Mike Wolfe's former picking partner, passed away in September 2024. He was 60 years old at the time. A cause for his passing has not been shared publicly. His own antique shop, Frank Fritz Finds, received mixed reviews. Some people called it, arguably, "cheap and tacky." Mike Wolfe's Nashville store, on the other hand, was described as a "fan's dream." This really highlights the different ways their businesses were seen, in some respects.

Frank Fritz's Personal Details

Name	Frank Fritz
Born	October 11, 1965, in Davenport, Iowa, USA
Died	September 2024, age 60
Role on American Pickers	Reality TV Star, Antique Collector, Mike Wolfe's picking partner
Business Owned	Frank Fritz Finds
Store Location	Savanna, Illinois

The Show: American Pickers and the Hunt for Treasures

American Pickers is a very well-known show on the History Channel. It first came out in 2010. The show's main idea, you know, is about finding old and interesting items. It followed Mike Wolfe, who owns Antique Archaeology, and his friend Frank Fritz. They would, more or less, go on adventures all over the United States. Their goal was to buy antiques directly from people's homes, barns, and sheds. They then, typically, sold these items for a nice profit.

The program really showed how Wolfe and Fritz, both 57 at one point, would get these old things. These items were always, in some respects, for Wolfe's business, Antique Archaeology. The show, it seems, highlighted their skills in finding hidden gems. It also showed their ability to negotiate with sellers. The series has been around for a long time, since 2010. Until recently, it featured friends Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe doing this very thing.

Today, the show is in its 27th season. It has continued with Mike Wolfe's brother, Rob, joining him. The show's focus remains on the hunt for unique pieces of history. It is, basically, about bringing forgotten items back to life. The dynamic of the show has changed a bit, but the core idea of picking for antiques remains. This ongoing journey, you know, keeps fans engaged with the world of old treasures.

Unpacking the Ownership Question: Antique Archaeology

The big question, are Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz co-owners in Antique Archaeology, has a clear answer based on the information available. Mike Wolfe is the owner of Antique Archaeology. The text states this directly. It says, for instance, "American Pickers star and creator Mike Wolfe owns Antique Archaeology, with stores located in both Le Claire." This, you know, makes it pretty straightforward.

Frank Fritz, on the other hand, had his own antique store. This was called Frank Fritz Finds, in Savanna, Illinois. So, they each had their own separate businesses. The show, American Pickers, focused on how Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz would find antiques for Wolfe's business, Antique Archaeology. This means Frank was a partner in the picking process, but not a co-owner of Mike's specific business, Antique Archaeology. He was, in a way, a key part of the show's operations, but not the business itself.

While Frank Fritz did help get Antique Archaeology going with his childhood friend, Mike Wolfe, this does not mean he was a co-owner. His role was more like a catalyst for the business. Colby, for example, worked as Wolfe's office manager for his antique store, Antique Archaeology. This also points to Mike Wolfe being the sole owner of that particular enterprise. It is, basically, Mike's business that the show helps to supply. You can learn more about American Pickers history on our site, and also check out this page for more details on the cast.

Frank Fritz Finds: A Separate Venture

Frank Fritz's business, Frank Fritz Finds, was his own distinct project. He opened this antique store in Savanna, Illinois, in 2002. This was, in some respects, his personal space for selling antiques. It was a place where he could showcase the items he found, separate from Mike Wolfe's stores. This venture, you know, allowed him to have his own business identity in the antique world.

The public perception of Frank Fritz Finds was, apparently, a bit different from Mike Wolfe's Antique Archaeology. While Mike's Nashville store was seen as a "fan's dream," Frank's Illinois shop was, sadly, described as "cheap and tacky" by some. This really shows that even though they worked together on the show, their individual business endeavors had their own distinct reputations. It is, basically, a look at how different people see things.

Frank's decision to open his own store before working on Antique Archaeology with Mike Wolfe highlights his independent spirit. He was, in a way, a collector and seller in his own right. His store was a reflection of his own tastes and finds. This was not, it seems, a shared business with Mike Wolfe. It was, rather, his own separate enterprise that he managed. This is an important detail when considering the ownership question, you know.

Frequently Asked Questions About Antique Ownership

Here are some common questions people ask about the ownership of the antique businesses related to American Pickers.

Who is the owner of Antique Archaeology?

Mike Wolfe is the owner of Antique Archaeology. He, you know, established this business. He has two locations for it. One is in Le Claire, Iowa, and the other is in Nashville, Tennessee. The show, American Pickers, focuses on how he gets items for his business, actually.

Did Frank Fritz have his own antique store?

Yes, Frank Fritz did have his own antique store. It was called Frank Fritz Finds. This shop is located in Savanna, Illinois. He opened it in 2002. This was, in fact, before he started working with Mike Wolfe on Antique Archaeology. So, yes, he had his own place.

What was Frank Fritz's role in Antique Archaeology?

Frank Fritz was Mike Wolfe's picking partner on the show, American Pickers. They traveled together to find antiques. These items were, typically, for Mike Wolfe's business, Antique Archaeology. Frank also played a role in getting Antique Archaeology going with Mike. However, he was not a co-owner of Antique Archaeology itself. He owned his own separate store.

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