The site shut during the Christmas break following a dispute between its landlord and the freehold owner.
Criterion’s Wandsworth staff have moved to its Islington saleroom in north London ahead of plans for a new valuation office in the Fulham area of west London.
General manager Guy Jackson, who joined three years ago, said: “We don’t need more salerooms but we need offices for people to come and bring us their items.”
He said the firm now plans to open a series of valuation offices over the next three to five years. He cited Wimbledon and Dulwich as other potential locations in London and possible expansion into the Midlands and the north of England.
Criterion, founded 30 years ago by majority owner Graham Richards, opened a saleroom at Jaggards House in Corsham, near Bath last year. It will now run all its sales from this Grade II-listed location and in its original home of Islington.
Modernisation
Jackson said: “Auctioneers must change. We are modernising a company that was a high-street firm in Islington and stuck in its ways.”
Criterion had been trying to move more upmarket away from selling lower value items but Jackson said its average lot price is £100.
