Posts Tagged ‘Spence’s Bazaar’
Flea Markets & Swap Meets
Posted on: April 12, 2013
Would you consider yourself a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac if in every state you visited you had to seek out one?
I wouldn’t but I love finding them in my state as well as others that I visit. The first discovery was in 1976, the year we moved from New Rochelle, NY to Dover, DE and it was Spence’s Bazaar. As a family we bought and then sold every Tuesday and Friday during the summer. Buying fresh vegetables, clothing, jewelry, books, and games at a Flea Market was awesome and cheap! Making money selling at a Flea Market was also awesome, however, my first experience wasn’t so positive. I sold several cases of 1950’s and ’60’s Barbie Dolls with clothing and accessories to a women for $5.00 – I didn’t know, but she knew that she had ripped me off!
Tayair and I were there in September (here)
In college during the 80’s I discovered Cowtown Flea Market across the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pilesgrove, New Jersey. It was the place to go for sneakers, knock off designer bags, tight Sergio Valente and Jordache jeans as well as items you needed for your dorm room before heading back to campus. As a matter of fact hubby and I had our second date there, shopping then eating sausage sandwiches at the counter was where I fell in love with him, a man after my thrify heart! I’ve also gone to some fantastic Swap Meets in California, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.
The Infamous Cowboy Statue
Even while vacationing in Florida we always dedicate one day to visiting Flea Markets and Swap Meets. Malik looks for watches and has a pretty nice collection, when he was younger it was model cars of which he has a large collection. Hubby would seek out new ties for work, me shoes and purses, and Tayair T-shirts. During President Obama’s run in 2008 we must have purchased a dozen different styles of campaign T-Shirts.
In the ’90’s, and during our early years of marriage we would rent space at New Castle Farmers Market. Selling surplus household items as well as those tight jeans and barely-there club dresses with hubby practically giving those away – lol! Now as a couple we go for fresh veggies, vitamins and herbal teas, boy how times have changed!
Now it’s Dutch Country Farmers Market in Middletown, where for $15 you can rent 3 parking spaces on the 1st Saturday of the month beginning in April to September. Last weekend I made almost $200 – “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”!
Are you a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac?
If so, where do you go and what was your best find?
Top Ten Flea Markets in America
Tags: 1950's, 1960's, 2008 presidential campaign, Barbie Dolls, California, clothing, College, Cowboy, Cowtown Flea Market, dating, DE, Delaware Memorial Bridge, dover, Dutch Country Farmers Market, family activities, Flea Market, florida, herbal teas, jewelry, Jordache Jeans, knock off designer bags, marriage, Maryland, Middletown, model cars, New Castle Flea Market, New Jersey, New Rochelle, new rochelle ny, NJ, NY, party dress, Pilesgrove, pilesgrove new jersey, President Obama, sausage sandwich, sausage sandwiches, Sergio Valente jeans, shopping, sneakers, Spence's Bazaar, Swap Meet, t shirts, ties, toiletries, trash, treasures, trhfting, veggies, Virgina, vitamins, watches, wholesale
Sound of Music
Posted on: October 11, 2012
Do you remember buying your first 45, Giant 45, how about your first album? Remember Saturday mornings watching Soul Train or American Bandstand, learning the dances then getting money to buy the record…singing the words – loudly… dancing until your sides ached. The smell of the vinyl…the cool designs on the jacket….writing your name on the label so no one stole it..taping a quarter onto the arm of the needle…putting the speakers in the window to blast out to the neighborhood…picking up the needle and playing your favorite part over and over again…having a fit if someone scratched it…using the album cover as a dust pan or other household item? There was nothing like running to the record store to buy that newly released 45 or album…for me those days are gone forever but the memories will last forever.
I found a place to relive some of those memories – Computer Tech located at Spence’s Bazaar Flea Market in Dover. Computer Tech has been in business for over 25 years and the owner, ChaBa Waite is an expert on everything music. When you go inside the barn all those memories come flooding back at the sight of crates and crates of records and albums, the sounds of Motown blasting from large speakers. Everything music and electronic including reel-to-reels, 8-track players, keyboards, monitors, computers, speakers, receivers, floppy disc drives, there are even telephones, answering machines, vacuums and small appliances. People from all over go to Computer Tech to buy, sell, upgrade and have merchandise repaired…looking for a particular record or album, I’m sure it could be found there. Unfortunately just the week before we took turntables and receivers to a recycling center, otherwise they would have found a perfect home at Computer Tech. After ChaBa scolded me for dumping our equipment she took time to talk to my son about quality speakers and receivers because he has a set up in the basement.
I could spend every Saturday morning at Computer Tech, eyes closed, listening to the music, drifting back to a time of childhood innocence.
Hello friends and happy 1st day of Fall 2012, I hope your Saturday was a good one. My day started with my sons and later we met up with a girlfriend and her son in Dover. Malik drove and our first stop was at Spence’s Bazaar. I took my Clutch Purses down because Lolita had offered to sell them on consignment in her kiosk, God is good! We walked around taking in the sights of fall: pumpkins, gourds, mums, fresh veggies and fruits. I truly love this time of year, transitioning from the heat of summer to the crispness of fall, even though it was in the 80’s today.
Our next stop was Target, I purposely did not get a cart but in the shoe section I found yellow pumps, not the florescent ones which were so popular this summer for $8.98 a pair, and when I saw them in pink and teal I ran with a quickness to get a cart! The black patent leather and snakeskin pumps were 30% off, so I only got the black pair. I will probably go back for the snakeskin’s next week. The clearance racks were filled with some great items and I found two sheer tops which will be worn over camisoles and a Merona Pencil skirt on sale for $18.00.
My girlfriend and her son met us at Target and our next stop was Beauty Max the beauty supply store. The boys veered off into CitiTrends while she and I shopped for over an hour, found some nice units, nail polish and beauty supplies, we also took time to assist others. Using our “expertise” we helped an elderly women who is scheduled for surgery and a young lady preparing for a wedding in choosing just the right wigs.
Tired and hungry we drove to Pizzeria Uno for a late lunch. The food was excellent and the waiter was outstanding. It was a perfect start to the new season and I am looking forward to the rest of the year!
Have a fantabulous night!
Tags: 2012, autumn, beauty max, clearance, clutch purses, Delaware, dover, fall, girlfriend, gourds, pencil skirt, pizzeria UNO, pumpkins, shoes, sons, Spence's Bazaar, Target, vegetables
Spence’s Bazaar Flea Market
Posted on: April 14, 2012
It had been years since I was in Dover on a Friday and even longer that I was at Spence’s Bazaar the local Flea Market. In 1974, I was a teenager when we moved to Dover and Spence’s Bazaar was the place to go on weekends including renting a table to sell your old stuff. Coming from New York, I didn’t know anything about selling at a Flea Market and to this day I remember the woman who bought all of my Barbie’s and accessories for $5! She ripped me off big time, most of my Barbie Dolls were circa 1950’s and she knew better , I only hope her life was miserable after that- seriously!
Fresh Produce is the best buy at Spence's
If you need it, it’s probably in one of these boxes!
At Flea Markets you can find everything – clothing, luggage, bags, hair accessories, albums, dolls, toys, memorabilia….EVERYTHING from soup to nuts!
T-Shirts and men’s clothing
Wanda found a nice hair pin
I love vendors with costume jewelry – I purchased these necklaces for $1.00 and the ring for $3.00.
New with tag, $1.00
New with tag, $1.00
They had several colors, new with tag $3.00
Colors of Spring
Vendor and his “Princess” where I purchased a cute color block purse for $10.00
Love this purse!
I had to hit up the ATM machine which almost stole my money to make 1 final purchase. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the vendor was an old high school friend of mine!
Lolita’s table was filled with Presidential and Sports Memorabilia so I purchased an item of each.
Bought this Eagles neckroll pillow for my son
It was a great day at Spence’s Bazaar in Dover and I will definitely be going again on my next staycation day.
Tags: Flea Market, Spence's Bazaar
Fashion and Fun after Fifty 