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Almost immediately vehicles began to pull into the normally largely vacant lot and filled up most of the spaces, a sight not seen for some time.
"It was just phenomenal," said Roger Winning, Rent-A-Center store manager. "It was all we could have hoped for."
In this mall where a feed store, auto parts store, tobacco shop, dollar store, barbershop, furniture rental store and Christian bookstore are neighbors, business has been slow in recent months.
"I blame it more on the economy than on where people shop," said David Cook, manager of the Dollar Plus Shop.
Still, one of Cook's more memorable recent experiences was a visit by a local couple carrying a lined note pad. They walked down each aisle in his store and made notes.
"All we're doing is writing down the items on your shelves that we use in our home," the couple told him. "We're doing this in every store in Pacific."
So when the couple needs something, they can find it in their hometown, thereby keeping their tax dollars in their own community.
Bryan Diehl, who has operated Pacific Feeds in the Plaza since March 1990, says his business is down some but he has adjusted his product line to try to stay in step with shoppers' habits.
Diehl grew up in the feed business, working for his father, George, now 83, and still working, in Diehl Feed Store in Fenton.
His product line is mostly pet food, lawn and grass seed, and deer feed.
"I carry a wide line of wild bird feed," he said.
When he first opened in the Plaza, his business built slowly and grew to a level that was very comfortable.
"About five years ago competition stiffened when other stores in town began selling pet food, so I had to adjust my product line some," Diehl said. "I had a lot of very good years here. The town has treated me well. I have good, loyal customers. I've adjusted my line to their buying habits."
It's more of a challenge for the Dollar Plus Shop, which has only been in the Plaza for a year.
"I was in Eureka for five years before moving here so I had some regular customers," Cook said. "But I've seen some definite downturn since Chrysler closed and some folks at Maritz were laid off."
Cook said the flea market was a good way to get different people to realize shops were there.
"I've had super positive feedback from the flea market," Cook said. "Some people who came in even said, 'I had forgotten you were here.' So I reconnected with some former customers."
By noon, sales at the Dollar Plus Shop had exceeded sales on any Saturday since he opened the shop.
"There were people from all around. I definitely got new customers," Cook said.
Alice Perkins, who operates Seeds of Faith Book Store had a similar experience.
"We had new people in the store," Perkins said. "Half, or more than half, of the new people bought something,"
In front of the bookstore and Faith Fellowship Church, tables with white tablecloths held packages of cookies, brownies, cupcakes and soda that were handed out as free treats.
Patrons who made their way along the sidewalk stopped for the free refreshments.
"In August, we're going to have gospel music," Randall Perkins, Faith Fellowship Church pastor said. "We have some pretty good musicians. That ought to draw people over to the door."
Merchants plan a second event on Saturday, Aug. 22. Barbecue and bluegrass and gospel will fill the plaza as merchants conduct a benefit for Guy Kircher, a barber who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
Roger Winning, who organized the flea market, said booths would also be available for the Aug. 22 event.
"We know having the flea market worked," Winning said. "Many of the people stopped because they were driving by and saw the activity."
Anyone wanting to reserve booth space for the Aug. 22 event can contact Winning at 636-257-5444.
