Steve Gilmer, the longtime owner of Birmingham curio shop What’s On 2nd, died last Wednesday after a sudden illness.

Alfred Smith, a friend, said Gilmer had suffered from failing health for some time but was hospitalized for pneumonia.

“He had friends all over,” Smith said. “He was the same with street people and millionaires. He’s left a stunning array of people who knew him and cared for him. That was his way.”

Gilmer, a resident of Birmingham, opened What’s On 2nd, originally on Second Avenue North, Smith said. The shop featured small antiques, as Gilmer believed “people had enough armoires and dining room tables,” Smith said.

Its name calls back to the famous Abbott and Costello “Who’s On First?” comedy routine, but hinted at the possibility that just about anything might be found in the store. It soon became one of those miniature street museums – a repository of vinyl albums, comic books, jewelry, toys, posters, collectables and curiosities.

Gilmer himself left a mark locally, as the shop eventually moved to First Avenue North and on to Five Points. A tribute on Reddit said Gilmer dedicated himself to “good interactions and involvement.”

“Steve has been recognized by most as an incredibly unique, caring, and involved individual to everyone he’s met. For those that had been fortunate enough to have conversations with Steve, he was well educated and passionate about antiques and history. I considered Birmingham relics and history to be his expertise,” the post reads.

Smith said the shop will probably close sometime in December.