They travel all the way from Australia!

Someone I know likes to refer to the town of Shipshewana as “Shop”-shewana because that’s what people love to do here.

But while it’s true that the Flea Market, auctions and all the unique shops in town offer almost endless shopping, this town is more than that.

I was reminded of that last week when I stopped in my friend’s business downtown. He was telling the adjacent shop owner the story of how he and his wife met and eventually married. As I listened to him tell his story, two tourists stopped to listen, too. One of the ladies contributed her own funny story and afterwards her friend commented, “This is why we love to come here… people don’t take the time to stop and talk where I’m from.”

It’s good to know we work in a town with a reputation for friendliness. Just ask the couple who travel all the way from Australia just to visit the flea market and downtown shops and stay in our RV Park … to experience it.

And it’s good to know we can also offer a neighborly experience to those who lose things at the Trading Place.

Sometimes we receive thank you notes for mailing items back to their owners. We received one such note last week after returning a Hanna Montana wallet to a 10-year-old girl. Her card read, “Thanks for sending me my wallet. I would have died if you didn’t find it.”

We’re so glad we prevented that from happening!

On the other hand, there are some things we can’t do, like “less rain” and “valet parking” as suggested on a few flea market comment slips. Unfortunately, our hands are a bit tied on those topics!

But just know we are happy to serve you and we’re doing our best to contribute to your “Shop”- shewana experience!

A great addition to your “Bucket List!”

I can think of a lot of good reasons to celebrate May!

The opening of the Shipshewana Flea Market is a very good one!

Tuesday’s opening day was beautifully sunny and warm and brought many smiling, good-natured people to check out the many booths at the flea market (we had approximately 80 percent of our 900-vendor capacity)

Once in a while we are asked why our flea market doesn’t carry local, hand-crafted items anymore. To answer that question, we have made a change to our 2013 Shipshewana Flea Market Guide this year. If you are looking in the Flea Market Guide and see a heart next to a listing, that indicates handmade items. We hope this clears up some of the confusion.

When I browsed the market Tuesday, I discovered one of those vendors offering handmade items. She had many hand-painted t-shirts with cute Shipshewana slogans that would make great souvenirs. She was very happy to be here, and I was happy to see her enjoying the perfect weather and the other vendors!

The booth across from hers displayed large, grill spatulas, which, of course. were not hand-made but engraved with names and logos of different sports teams, proving there ARE items for men to be found in the flea market … including tools and a booth dedicated entirely to sports teams!

Some other booths I noticed were the jumbo jelly beans (a yearly favorite), a fabric booth with a beautiful assortment, and a popular booth with engraved and painted outdoor stones.

Yes, if you are looking for socks, sunglasses and shoes, you are sure to find an assortment of those, too, as well as jewelry, clothing, cosmetics, flags, pet items, books and much more.

And let’s not forget the variety of produce and beautiful plants and flowers to be discovered! Check out these beautiful roses:

And if you’re looking for food, I passed a fudge booth very conveniently located next to one of the rest areas. Great idea!

Of course there’s more than just fudge … I also saw elephant ears, homemade ice cream (made on the spot) and hot, soft pretzels.

I observed all that in just a short half hour. Imagine what you would find if you spent an entire day here!

So if you’re making a bucket list, or any kind of list for that matter, be sure “Visit Shipshewana Flea Market” is on it!

 

Sun, Spring and Shopping!

April is always exciting around here.

The sun is finally out, outside temperatures are rising (62 degrees tomorrow… hallelujah!), and we’re busy preparing for another tourist season.

Several people are stopping in the office to learn how to become a vendor. Freight companies are dropping off shipments. Teens are looking for summer employment. And we’re getting A LOT of the same question.

You know what that means, don’t you?

Yep … Shipshewana Flea Market!

For those of you who have never experienced this seasonal event now is the time. So far we are about 85 percent filled to vendor capacity, and that makes for a pretty good opening day … May 7!

Yes, TUESDAY, MAY 7, IS OPENING DAY, 8 AM TO 5 PM.

So come see us. We look forward to your visit!

Aisles and aisles of unique merchandise …

Leashed four-legged friends are also welcome!

Shopping St seems to be an appropriate name for the Flea Market!

Wonderful hand-crafted items for your home or yard

Lots and lots of good food to taste!

Come here and shop for your spring planting

Not sure what’s caught their attention but the flea market offers entertainment for everyone!

Come on, Spring!

Judging by the fat snow flurries blowing around outside yesterday, it seems rather ridiculous that I heard a bird singing one early morning last week.

And it seemed rather ridiculous at the time since it was dark and … well …  I was shoveling snow … in March.

But, this is Indiana and stranger things have happened, especially when it comes to the weather.

Thankfully, the sun did come out at least three days last week, and it’s here again today, hopefully to stay!

Birds and sun in the middle of March make for one big smile! We will ignore the fact we’ve had blizzard-like snow for the past three Tuesdays in a row. Instead, we’ll be optimistic like that bird and believe spring is peeking its very welcome face around the corner!

So hooray for birds!

Hooray for the warm sun coming out and melting the snow and that soon we will no longer hear the loud, “jet taking off” sound of melting snow sliding off the office roof!

And hooray that in just about 8 more weeks Shipshewana Flea Market will once again open and bring with it warm May sunshine, a lot more singing birds, and happy smiles!

It all started with 6 pigs and 7 cows …

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!

Ditching Propriety …

One day last week while at an appointment I saw a lady wearing pajama pants.

It’s not much of a shocker these days, I know, but sometimes it still catches me by surprise.

I mean, it’s not like I’ve never left my home in my pajama pants before. I have done it when picking up my son from somewhere.

But I never left my car.

Guess for me it’s just a propriety issue. I might have to ditch the propriety, though, just for this Saturday.

Because this Saturday will be the annual Pajama Sale in Shipshewana … a day when public pajama-wearing is completely acceptable.

Enthusiasts will drag themselves, in their jammies, out of the comfort and warmth of their own homes for a day of shopping sales in Shipshewana. The sales are fun but it might be even more fun seeing the crazy collection of sleep wear roaming about!

It’s become such a celebrated event in our town that many people make it a yearly family tradition and reserve accommodations several months to a year in advance. Our Farmstead Inn is completely full for Friday night!

Now that’s dedication!

Our Antique Gallery also participates by opening regular hours 9am to 5pm and offering a wide variety of discounts from participating vendors and free cookies and coffee, too.

For more information visit www.Shipshewana.com.

Lost Items … Found Friends!

Those who have attended our weekly Miscellaneous & Antique Auction know that it moves along rather quickly. And although this time of year we are down to about 8 auctioneers, the pace is still pretty lively!

Sometimes in all the excitement people lose personal items or accidentally leave their purchases behind. We try our best to get those items back to their rightful owners!

Recently, someone left behind a camera at the auction and called the same day to notify us. As it turned out, someone else had found it and turned it into the office. Not much effort was required on our part … all we did was mail it.

So we were unexpectedly and pleasantly surprised to receive a thank you note … with a gift card attached.  The gentleman was so pleased to have his camera again. He even said we confirmed his opinion that “Shipshewana Auction is the best.”

What a wonderful way to start the day!  The fact that this nice man took the time to thank us just confirms OUR opinion that “our customers are the best!”

And it just goes to show that every little part of our business is important and that you are the ones who make it successful! So thank YOU!

If you’ve never been to our Miscellaneous & Antique Auction, check it out for yourself any Wednesday year-round at 9am (or earlier if you want to preview the items). We will be having a Folk Art Auction in conjunction with our regular Wednesday auction on Feb. 6 at 11 am.  For a list of other upcoming auctions, visit: http://www.tradingplaceamerica.com/auctions.php

Why not plan now?

So it may be too early to think about spring considering we’ve just begun the new year  …  and that the temperature here has dipped to the low teens lately.

But then again, maybe not.

Maybe, like me, you’re dreaming about spring because you’re stuck inside, not being a winter sports and snow person, after all.

And if you’re going to dream about spring, why not dream sitting in one of these …

admiring a garden of these …

while thinking about how to recycle something like this  …

Make your list now of all that you want to accomplish in your garden and outdoor space this year. So when spring finally does roll around, you’ll be ready for  the Land & Lakes Outdoor Garden Show, May 4^th, 8am to 4pm.

This show is held in conjunction with Shipshewana May Fest, and it features vendors of Garden (plants, flowers, landscape items, etc.), Art (glass, pottery, photography, etc.), Green (recycled and earth friendly products, etc.), and Antiques (primitives, furniture, textiles, etc.).

And if you’re interested in becoming a vendor for the show, click here: vendor info

Happy dreaming!

Bet You’ll See Some Amazing Art!

It’s a well-known fact that Northern Indiana weather can be pretty fickle sometimes.

At the beginning of the month we experienced some pretty mild temperatures for December with no sign of any real snow. And it didn’t arrive in time for Christmas, either.

But it’s here now!

We are now under a winter weather advisory with lots of blowing snow … which should keep the temperatures cold enough for the upcoming Shipshewana Ice Festival, Thursday through Saturday.

Tomorrow is slated for Ice Carving throughout town. If you’ve never attended this event before, it’s something to see. Many talented artists work hard throughout the day to display their unique ice offerings throughout town.

Last year, we had some beautiful ice sculptures:

At the Auction Restaurant

At the Antique Gallery

And at the Farmstead Inn

Competition Carving will be held on Friday from 11am to 2pm. Also, many stores will be open tomorrow until 8pm. And from now through Jan. 31, 2013, a purchased Ice Festival pin will get you special discounts in several businesses, including the Farmstead Inn and the Auction Restaurant.

A Chili Cook-off will be held downtown as well on Saturday from 10am to 3pm, which should help warm you up some.

So come on out if you get a chance. Might as well put the winter weather to good use!

Shipshewana Shimmer Walk and other happenings…

So it’s definitely Christmas in Shipshewana.

If the huge colorfully lit tree and beautiful lights downtown didn’t give it away, then the streets filled with shoppers determined to take advantage of the many sales might …

… or some interesting stories:

Today is “Wana Night Out!” with sales that began at 2pm today continuing through 8pm at participating stores.

One excited shopper who stopped in our office on another matter told me how he sleepily dialed the number of a local radio station and was the winning caller during the morning show. So he’s using the gift certificate he won combined with the sales to buy a really good snow shovel.

Smart guy.

And I just heard a story about the Shipshewana Auction Restaurant Christmas tree. Apparently, our restaurant manager’s young grandson took a bite out of one of the homemade ornaments. No worries – it was made of something edible! The bonus is if you come to the restaurant and look for the “bitten” ornament on the tree, you can win some pie as part of the “Shipshewana Shimmer” Christmas Tree Walk now through Dec. 31. Grab a map of Shimmer Walk participants and discover all the beautiful, unique trees throughout town, as well as discounts and some free items.

Finally, if you come to town this Friday or Saturday night, you can see the true Christmas story played live at the Trading Place Pavilion in front of the Antique Gallery. Members of New Life Fellowship Church will perform a Live Nativity at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 pm. If you’ve never seen a camel up close, now’s your chance! Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided for everyone and kids get goody bags.

So come enjoy Christmas in Shipshewana.

All that’s missing now is the snow…