Ozark, MO Flea Markets

[Suselit]

Ozark's antique, collectible malls

- Antique Emporium, 1702 W. Boat, 581-5555

- Antique Hardware Reproductions, 1411 S. 3rd, 581-6525

- Boomland Square, 1996 W. Elm, 581-6512

- Cookies Antique World, 8180 S. U.S. 160, 443-5000

- Fernery, The, 705 N. 10th, 485-0552

- Fork River Antiques, 5120 N. 17th, 581-0556

- Gatehouse Antiques, 1720 James River Road, 582-2420

- Maine Street Antique Mall, 1994 Evangel, 581-2575

- Nostalgic Restoration, 1985 W. Hilltop, 485-4165

- Ozark Antiques, 200 S. 20th, 581-5233

- Ozark Market Basket, 1611 S 3rd, 485-2755

- Ozark Mercantile, 201 W Church 581-1624

- Pearle Crique Antiques, 101 W. Brick, 581-7333

- Riverview Antique Center, 909 W. Jackson, 581-4426

- The Seed Box, 1715 James River Road, 581-1366

- Southside Collectibles Gifts & Antiques, 5215 S. 17th, 581-1282

- Spring Creek Antiques, 15 S. 3rd, 581-5914

- Yesteryear's Antiques, 105 N. 20th, 485-2646

http://www.ozarksnow.com/apps/pbcs.d...00364/1007/RSS

Published February 10, 2008

Ozark is hot spot for finding antique thrills

Once a haven for antiquing tourists, local shops find new revenue among residents.

Donna Baxter
News-Leader

Ozark — Flea market enthusiasts say they have no problem spending three or four days in Ozark browsing the town's many emporiums — perhaps more antique malls per square mile than anywhere else, store owners say.
And the economic impact on the city is tremendous, according to Main Street Director Robert Snook.

"It's one of the largest retail industries in the city," he said.

"In fact, the flea markets help make all these other stores possible. And while (people) are around town, they eat and buy gas, shop... whatever."

Antique mall owner Terry May agrees.

"We pull in our share of sales tax dollars for the community," May said. "We, obviously, have an impact because there are so many of us. Within the perimeter of Ozark you are looking at 15 to 25 (flea market) places to shop."

He explained that many flea market malls contain booths that are rented out to dealers who furnish the merchandise. The store owner collects the money from the customers and pays the dealers each month.

At May's River View Antique Center, for example, there are about 100 spaces.

And there are at least five small shops, particularly on and just off the courthouse square.

May said the area also attracts many out-of-state dealers mainly because "we still have a reputation for quality low-priced merchandise that people from other places can buy and turn around and resell," but many customers are from the area.

Boomland owner Terry Pittman, who doesn't do any consignment business, said his local base has picked up during the past four or five years.

"It used to be about 50 percent tourists, but looking at numbers, it's more like 60 percent local now," Pittman said. "With Ozark growing in terms of other businesses, it's been able to draw more people to this area because of the diversity in restaurants and shopping."

Alfreda Robin, owner of Antiques Emporium, said her store gets a lot of tourists who have been or are going to Branson. They stop to eat at Lambert's and see the store nearby.

"We've kind of named ourselves the capitol of the antique malls," said former Mayor Donna McQuay.

Flea market or antique store?

There's not a lot of difference between an antique store or a good flea market, May said.

"Used to be that an antique store would carry a lot of early- and mid-1900s glassware and furniture — the kind of things that a lot of us grew up with and threw away — but to find what I would call a true antique mall anymore is very hard."

The reason, he cites, is the scarcity due to so many antiques being in private collections, making it too expensive for dealers to buy and resell.

"When you're talking about a flea market, you're talking about old stuff, new stuff, garage sale items and all kinds mixed in. We advertise antiques, primitives and collectibles, which kind of covers the gamut," May said.

Some dealers have the old glassware and furniture, but primitive is now popular, as well as collectibles. New items like NASCAR, Hot Wheels and items from the 1960s and '70s are selling good. The oriental market is also big with reproductions, he said.

May said he has seen many changes in business, especially during the past six or seven years, mainly due to the millions of items for sale on the Internet, including eBay.

"I hate to say it, but we've seen our sales go down during the last four or five years. I think most mall and antique dealers will probably agree to a degree," May said.

"I can't blame it really on any one thing, but along about Sept. 11 (2001), people began to think about not spending quite as much, not getting out and going quite as much. It seems like that was the break point where sales started declining a little bit," he said.

A great way to spend free time

People go to flea markets for lots of reasons.

McQuay said she loves to look at the "stuff in these flea markets we had when were kids ... dishes out of oatmeal boxes ... People are nostalgic ... makes you remember what Grandma and Grandpa had."

But some people have a particular item or items in mind.

Al Campbell and Janet Parker of Lampe collect cookie jars and related items. They browsed through an antique reference book for sale in one of the booths.

Dee Allen of Nixa, who was shopping with her daughter Andrea Pense and Pense's 7-month-old son, Cash, of Fayetteville, Ark., said they were just looking for bargains.

Wanda Williams and her daughter Marsha Norman of Lebanon were admiring a cut-glass dish like one Wanda used to have.

"We're out flea marketing," she said.

Warren and Cynthia Matlock of Nixa were reminiscing in one of the booths as they looked at an old advertising fan.

"We're just wasting some time," Cynthia Matlock said.

"I have some glassware of my great-grandparents ... didn't know I was so rich," said Warren Matlock as he looked at the price on a Jewell Tea bowl.

River View employee Jane Watts said she estimated about 200 customers come in on a normal day.

"Sometimes, they're sitting out front waiting to get in when we open," she said.

Patsy Jackson of Springfield and a friend rent a booth at Spring Creek.

"It's fun to change your house, and we had a lot of stuff," Jackson said. "We sell it so we can buy some more ... mix old with new."

Jackson said people sometimes shop while waiting for a table in the tea room, but true "antiquers" will go to all the malls.

"I do it just for fun now but when I retire in a few years, I'll do it all the time," Jackson said.


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[jillybeanz]

thanks for all the information, I am sure I will get alot of use out of this

[sah95]

Wonderful info!! Thanks a bunch!!

[Suselit]

....according to GoSpringfield
http://www.springfieldgo.com/
"Trendy or quirky second-hand shops aren’t just a Center City phenomenon, though you could be forgiven for thinking so.
Vintage Vice (214 S. Campbell Ave.)
and Zoey’s Vintage and Name Brand Clothing (322 Park Central East) bookend downtown with affordable vintage wear and accessories,
and The Style (211 E. Commercial St.) is great for true old-school duds.
In parts south (and east), The Plaid Door (1920 E. Sunshine St.),
Plato’s Closet (3420 S. Glenstone Ave.) and
Name Brand Clothing (2832 S. Glenstone Ave.) are a few of the better spots for buying or selling pre-worn apparel on the cheap—we even know a few people who make a small mint re-selling stuff on eBay. Capitalism rules."