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Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Flea market
filled with treasures
By Kari Kline
Correspondent
CHARLTON—
Glittering pins, rhinestone earrings, swords, statues of
Japanese maidens, videos, and CD’s. You’ll find all of
the above at the locally popular Charlton Flea Market.
Owners Jane and Paul Vautour and Norman Corriveau, Mrs.
Vautour’s father, have run the successful operation for
four years. Mr. Corriveau and Harry Koske ran the former
Auburn Flea Market until it was moved to its new
location in Charlton on Route 20.
Even though the dealers at Charlton are allowed to rent
by the week, Mrs. Vautour says many have been coming
back for years.
The 10,000-square-foot space of Building One houses
approximately 74 vendors in 9-foot-by-10-foot stalls.
One such vendor, Nita Volkavitch, has been at the market
since its beginning, and before that was at the Auburn
location for 26 years.
She says she sells antiques ranging from French
hand-painted porcelain and a Steiff Bear (special bear
made in Germany) to a Royal Worcester vase with a
sticker price of $3,500. She showed off some glittery
designer clothes that she said an opera singer had worn
onstage.
“I’ve had people come to me for years from all over
Europe,” she adds. “I do well at the Charlton flea
market.”
Taking a walk down the aisles of Building One reveals
many hidden treasures for the sharp eye.
“We have dealers who sell new stuff like food, shampoo
and deodorant. They’re wholesalers. If you have kids,
you know how quickly cereal can go. Everyone who sells
food here must have a food license,” said Mrs. Vautour.
There is an array of furniture including country
furniture and antique items such as beds, chairs, dining
room sets and glass pieces. Matchbox car and scale-model
sports car dealers occupy several spaces.
Building Two sits in back of Building One. Within are
consignment places, where dealers leave items that are
then sold by the Vautours. The 5,000-square-foot
building houses about 62 4-foot-by-8-foot spaces.
There are also 87 self-storage units next to Building
One, in sizes beginning at 5 feet by 5 feet, and going
up to 10 feet by 30 feet.
“You can store your car outside for the winter,” said
Mrs. Vautour. “Some dealers store their stuff in the
units.”
But, she said, since Christmas is coming, she encourages
visitors to bring family and spend the day browsing.
“We have everything from the new to the old,” Mrs.
Vautour said. “You have to be careful. Today’s economy
is bad. Make sure you’re getting a good deal.”
If a visitor should get hungry while shopping, the small
food stand sells hamburgers and hotdogs with a bonus of
homemade soup.
During the summer months, approximately 200 dealers set
up outside, said Mrs. Vautour.
“I love people, especially those with a history,” says
Mrs. Vautour. “It’s interesting to listen to them. We
get people who love antiques and collectibles, to those
just looking for a bargain. I’ve learned to come to a
flea market before ever buying anywhere else again. When
I think that I’ve paid triple for items than what
they’re sold here for…”
Hours for the Charlton Flea Market are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday (only for Building Two), and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday (both buildings are open). For more information,
call (508) 248-5690.
Worcester
Telegram & Gazette Corp.
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