Yesterday a caller said he stumbled upon our Web page while doing an Internet search for flea markets. Apparently the small town he is from has an unimpressive flea market. He said he is impressed by the quality of Shipshewana Flea Market and amazed by the enormity of it. I explained the other facets of our business and he wondered how we grew to be so large and successful.
So here’s the story:
In 1922 a man named George Curtis sold six pigs, seven cows and several head of young cattle at his home. His auction business grew so quickly that four years later he built a barn at the same location. He saw a need for a restaurant, so in 1930 he opened one in his garage.
George sold the business in 1946 to Fred Lambright, who, a year later, built a new sale barn (where we are presently located). At that time people sold flea market items out of their car trunks, so a roof was built for the flea market. In 1950, Fred built an Auction Restaurant on the premises, which seated 50-60 people.
Fred’s nephew, Walter Schrock, bought the auction in 1961 and expanded the flea market grounds in 1968.
1960s Flea Market (photo by Leonard Haarer)
The market grew from 100 to 400 vendors, and the antique auction increased from 4 to 10 auctioneers. In 1978, a 200’ x 80’ building was built for the antique auction and then was enclosed in the fall of 1980 and included a snack bar.
Fred Lambright’s son and grandsons, Robert, Keith and Kevin, purchased the auction in 1981. In 1984, they expanded the flea market to 1000 spaces and the restaurant to seat 110 people. Four years later they built a new restaurant (our current one, which seats 250). The old restaurant was renovated into the corporate offices.
In 1992, Robert Lambright lost a battle with cancer, leaving Keith and Kevin to run the business.
In 1997, the Lambrights expanded the business to include an 85-room hotel, the Farmstead Inn, which was built across the street from the auction. A year later, the 31,000 sq. ft. Antique Gallery was built next door to the Farmstead Inn. Then in 2004, 69 rooms and a 15,000 sq. ft. Conference Center were added to the Farmstead Inn.
In 2008, an RV Park with 70 full hook-up sites opened on the south side of the flea market.
In 2010, the corporate office building was torn down (old restaurant building) and a section of the Livestock Auction building was rebuilt into the corporate offices. Looking around, it’s hard to believe that our offices were once pig pens!
Finally, in the early spring of 2012, the 9300 sq. ft. Trading Place Pavilion was built on the lawn in front of the Antique Gallery. The Pavilion quickly became home to a summer Farmer’s Market and our Antique Markets and was also rented for a Gospel Music Jam concert. This year we are excited it will be used for upcoming concerts and weddings.
A lot has changed in 90 years!
Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market 