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| - Someone recently told me about the big flea market near Bridgeville, and being a somewhat ardent thrifter, my friend and I decided to take a Saturday morning to check it out. So we headed out early, and drove to Bridgeville to Trader Jack's.
And well, my friends, with the carnivorous rise of the Walmart mentality, flea markets and garage sales just aren't the treasure troves they used to be.
Trader Jack's really isn't much more than a giant junk sale from a far less than affluent neighborhood.
There are two sections. Indoor, and somewhat permanent vendors, and the outdoor tables that seem more 'regular folk' oriented. The outdoor section really is row after row of household junk, with a few small time antique peddlers (mostly coins, buttons, and other 'collectibles' and such), a handful of gardening season plant peddlers, more than enough black and gold and sports memorabilia peddlers, MORE than plenty dollar-store kitsch peddlers, and a few food item peddlers that, quite frankly, why would I buy food items sitting out in the hot sun for goodness knows how many weeks in a row? There are also a handful of produce vendors, but considering the wares and the time of year that I was there, these were NOT farmers with fresh goods. This was an off-the-back-of-the-truck lot of produce, at the same prices you'd find anywhere else.
The indoor section is supposedly a group of more 'permanent' vendors, set up in little sections, frankly none of which are particularly useful or interesting. It really is just a big old corral of junk. Very little of what I saw, inside or out, was of any kind of real value, even to a memorabilia collector. I found a vintage tie and a pair of pants that were my size (and tastes) and spent a total of $4 without quibbling. If I hadn't already planted my own garden, MAYBE I would have bought a plant or two.
It can be an interesting way to pass some time on a dull weekend morning, but just don't expect too much. In fact, don't expect much of anything at all except some exercise and sunshine.
I mean, seriously folks...when out to peddle your wares from your closets, ask yourself this...If YOU don't want it, why would anyone else? Unless you're selling off grandma's estate of valuables...keep it in your front yard, and have a beer on the porch while you waste the day.
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