Thrift stores, flea markets, village garage sales, and more! This is the season to get awesome deals in the Canton Stark County area even if you only have “$20.00 in your pocket”. Many of these bargains are available year round but summer weather brings out even more shopping deals. There are many Goodwill Stores throughout Stark County that we are all familiar with, but there are also a variety of other ways to shop for bargains! 
One of the most familiar flea markets to us is the Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market open year round, but in the summer over 1000 seasonal vendors can be found outside the indoor section of the MarketPlace. There is everything from glassware, to furniture, to children’s toys, and many fresh grocery items. I love their fresh produce. The MarketPlace is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Just down the street from the Hartville MarketPlace is the building that used to house the old Hartville Hardware and currently is the new home to the GentleBrook Centre. The centre is divided into several sections one if which houses The Hartville Thrift Shoppe. Other sections house rehabilitation programs for GentleBrooke clients and many items sold at the thrift shoppe are made by their clients. In addition to home-décor products; including plant stands, memory boxes, and handcrafted furniture, clients also make candles, lotions, and bird houses. Proceeds from these items go to support GentleBrooke and their clients. I have shopped in GentleBrook Thrift Shoppe, there are lots of great bargains. A friend of mine is a 1st grade teacher and found an entire stack of books she bought for her classroom for just a few dollars. http://www.gentlebrook.org/frontporch.html
In October of 2008 the Canton Preservation Society opened their resale store in downtown Canton. I purchased a beautiful mint green cut glass set complete with decanter, tray and 6 glasses for a bargain price. It looks beautiful on my hutch in the kitchen, very vintage. You can also find recycled furniture, household items, lighting, appliances, windows, doors, antiques and collectables. There are mountains of items, and you have to spend some time sorting through them, but it is well worth it. Store hours are Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Wednesday & Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Last but definitely not least in thrift shopping are village garage sales. There are two large village garage sales in Stark County. They have much more than “your grandpa’s coat”. The first one is in Navarre, Ohio and this year is May 16, 17 & 18th. This annual village wide garage sale has been going on for over 20 years rain or shine. In addition there are two local flea markets that will be open with special sales from their merchants. A map of yard sale locations is available at the Village Hall and at the Navarre- Bethlehem Township Heritage Education Center at 12 High St. For more information call Jeff Kraus at 330-879-5938. www.navarreohio.net
The next one is the Buy-Way Yard Sale that happens August 8, 9 and 10 of 2013! This yard sale runs along the historic Lincoln Highway route and saw 250 participants its first year throughout Ohio and neighboring states and has been growing ever since. An official Traveler’s Guide has been created that includes a map of Ohio’s Lincoln Highway alignments along with listings of many yard sales and community events along the way. This free guide will be available at convention and visitor bureaus and chambers along the way in mid-July. Look for local newspapers with special insert maps for the sales in that area, too, helping merchants and businesses get a little more of the pie. Travel along the historic Lincoln Highway and shop bargains along the way! You never know what treasures you’ll find.
For more information visit http://historicbyway.com/buy-way-yard-sale
Check back for my next shopping article on Vintage Shopping and Consignment Stores. Shop on and support your local economy!!
