Main Street Flea Market

Village Flea Outlet at French and Union roads in Cheektowaga and the Main Street Flea Market in North Tonawanda share the same roots as Super Flea, but each has an individual flair.

From the NOCO station across the street, the Main Street Flea Market, 140 Main St., North Tonawanda, looks like a house. In fact, the building housing the former Sloppy Joe’s tavern is much bigger than it looks from the street, says owner Ron Anderson. Inside, eight vendors display their wares. Halfway back, a lunch counter offers breakfast sandwiches, coffee and doughnuts. Anderson, who opened the flea market in 1989, says, “We’re like a family. We joke that the snack bar is like ‘Cheers.’”

The mood in the mini-flea is jocular, with every seller quick with a grin and a quip. Gina Kraft sells purses, glassware, china, miniatures and a few pieces of vintage framed art; across the aisle, Norbert Payne specializes in advertising collectibles and beer memorabilia, mixed in with records, political buttons and magazines.

“Our shoppers are quite varied,” says Payne. “We have young people, elderly people. I seem to get more men, but there are a lot of women, too. We have a lot of regulars, and we have people come in with things to sell, too.”

Tina Maisano of the City of Tonawanda hits the flea market for “bargains!” she says. “I like to decorate with old things. Gina (Kraft) has a lot of things here that are like ones I used to see in my grandmother’s house. It’s a treasure hunt.”

Sherry Szynkowski specializes in scented candles and incense. “I’ve been flea-marketing for more than 30 years,” she says as she works on a needlepoint piece at the snack bar while “Wheel of Fortune” plays on the TV.  Her most expensive items are collectible Barbies, still in their boxes. “I try to mark them low so I can get rid of them,” she says. “And (the price of) everything in here is negotiable.”

Near the back of the store, R. Stein, who describes himself as “that old guy who sells coins and paraphernalia,” stands behind a hand-written sign: “Welcome North Tonawanda Zoo- Please Do Not Feed the Animals.”  In his wide glass-topped display case, Stein sells oddments ranging from a sheet of uncut Lithuanian currency to expired Chinese passports.

“Sometimes people just come in to sit at the snack bar and talk with the vendors,” says Anderson.