Hundreds of bargain hunters turned out to sort through stacks of clothing, finger displays of glassware and play musical instruments at the April 21 flea market hosted by the Downtown Pacific Business Association.
A collection of retailers, civic organizations and garage sellers assembled an eclectic mix of goods in booths that lined St. Louis Street from First to Second streets with a third row of booths down the street center. Shoppers filled the commuter parking lot and parked on side streets.
It was an encore of a previous successful flea market hosted by the downtown association.
Civic organizations came to show their wares and raise funds. The Tri-County Community Senior Center held a bake sale.
The Catawissa Union Church Ladies Aid offered crafted pieces and embroidered baby quilts. The group also sold chances on two queen-sized quilts, one pieced and one embroidered, and offered baby quilts for sale.
Larry Mueller, Downtown Business Association president, worked the crowd, visiting each booth and stopping shoppers to chat.
“It’s a great turnout,” Mueller said. “Vendors say they’re having sales, which it’s all about.”
Two shoppers, Maggie Kloppe and Gail Williams, Eureka, were laughing as they picked through boxes at their feet. When asked if they were having fun, they only laughed harder.
“These things are free,” they said pointing to several boxes of Christmas items.
The sun was out for most of the day, but temperatures were only in the 50s.
Some St. Louis Street store owners propped their front doors open, inviting flea market shoppers to come in.
Lyn Asta and Chris Niemoeller, owners of Education Station, set up a table on the sidewalk in front of their new digs in the former Noonan building, where they had recently moved their tutoring service.
Next door in the former John Heger realty building, Annette Grimm and Susan Jones welcomed shoppers to their NettieSuze Home Décor furniture store.
Across South First Street at Pacific Station Plaza, Meadow Crest Farms of Catawissa offered pony rides. Bob LaFarth, Meadow Crest owner, brought four quarter horses, known to be friendly riders.
“Quarter horses will do anything,” said LaFarth, who also brought along several stable hands to hold lead lines for riders.
Shoppers continued to trickle into the afternoon prompting most booth operators to keep their booths open.
“We’re just happy to see so many people come out,” Mueller said. “Anything that brings a few shoppers to town is a good thing.”
