CARTHAGE, Mo. — With the recent openings of McBride’s Antiques and the Pandelirium, the number of antique and flea market stores on the square has grown to a half-dozen, making Carthage a go-to destination for people looking for antiques, collectibles and bargains.
Owner Keith McBride opened the doors to his new shop at 112 E. Fourth St. on Nov. 1. He decided to venture out on his own after having a booth in another shop. His store is one-quarter full, and he is looking for more dealers.
“I think the square is beautiful,” he said. “It’s a perfect spot.”
The business is a natural for McBride.
“My mom is a huge collector of stuff,” he said, adding that collectors are incurable and will always buy if they find that elusive item they have been seeking.
Undaunted by the economy, McBride said, “I would say it has helped because people are looking to get rid of things to make extra money, and other people are looking for good deals.”
The Pandelirium, 307 S. Main St., opened two months ago. Like McBride, sisters Kimberly Spencer and Robin Edwards say they love their location. They had booths of their own before starting their business.
“People on the square have been fabulous, taking us under their wing,” Spencer said.
“One person described us as ‘eye candy,’” Edwards added.
The Pandelirium sponsors a free wine and cheese social on one Friday a month.
H.J. “Jake” Johnson, owner of Oldies & Oddities, 331 S. Main St., said: “It’s nice to see the new ones move in. We’re all a little different and have our own personalities.”
Johnson’s 40 dealers sell more art deco and retro-style antiques than the country furniture that was popular awhile back. “These are the things their grandparents had and are antiques to (a new generation),” he said.
Many of his customers are vacationers traveling historic Route 66. They generally don’t make larger purchases but look for items that are unique to the region.
“We sell a lot of stuff to 66ers,” Johnson said.
Kim Crusa manages Emporium on the Square, 311 S. Main St., for the owners, Dr. John and Ann Carter. The bulk of the antique inventory is provided by one of the operation’s five dealers, and it fills two levels. The store also shares Route 66 traffic.
“We get lots of out-of-town tourists (including many from Europe), especially in the summer,” Crusa said.
Susan Walker has owned Goad’s Antique Mall, 111 E. Third St., for the past 10 months. A dealer herself for many years, she couldn’t be happier with the business. “It has been a banner year; it has been going up every quarter,” she said. “We just try to have good old stuff and fun stuff at reasonable prices.”
Another long-standing square occupant is Mapleleaf Market Place, 342 Grant St. The owner could not be reached for comment, but from experience, I know that if you are looking for a particular antique item, the store will do its best to find it.
Three antique/flea market stores are located off the square.
Country Mall & Flea Market, 534 W. Fir Road, has 20,000 square feet and features booths by 300 dealers. Chad Sturgeon and his father, Ron, opened the huge store two years ago. Their location nets many highway customers, and they occasionally get a tour bus from Kansas City. Chad Sturgeon said the only change they have noted since opening is that customers were buying antiques at first but now are making more practical purchases.
Miss Madi’s Place, 620 E. Central Ave., offers a variety of antique and flea market items. Owner LeAnn Meister opened the store in 2007. “Probably the thing I hear the most is how clean, neat and well displayed our goods are,” she said.
Dean’s Antique Mall & Flea Market, 1200 Oak St., is celebrating its 38th year in business. Dean Carver, owner, said that while dealers in more than 100 booths offer some antiques, most sales are for more usable products, including glassware, tools, washing machines and even lawn mowers. Because the economic downturn has made used goods more attractive, his business has improved, he said.
