Newly Opened Antique And Flea Market Strives To Be Unique
Newly Opened Antique And Flea Market Strives To Be Unique
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
Newly Opened Antique And Flea Market Strives To Be UniqueFormerly a truck terminal, the owner and general manager of Old 30 West Antique and Flea Market hope a lot of traffic comes through their business.
It's a joint venture between Roger Gaff and Dave Cesaretti.
Gaff spent 38 years as a driver for the Warsaw Post Office until retiring this year. Now he has time to pursue his passion of going to auctions around the Midwest and finding hidden gems.
"To me it's a treasure hunt," said Gaff. "I'd do it if I just broke even."
Gaff said he logged more than 8,000 miles in 2008 and 2009 driving to auctions.
Now he's teamed up with Cesaretti to facilitate showing his "treasures" to the area.
The building, located at 2744 Old 30W across from RR Donnelley, is owned by Cesaretti.
While Cesaretti is known for owning local cab company Fast Cabs, this new venture allows him to go back to his roots.
Hailing from Chicago where his family has owned a restaurant in nearby Elmhurst for more than 50 years, the new business allows him get back in the restaurant game.
With a kitchen on hand, the Old 30 West Antique and Flea Market offers a menu complete with pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and barbecue.
With its location near the City-County Athletic Complex, Gaff said he wants to work closely with them and promote their events while offering another option for people in town for CCAC events.
Gaff prides himself on finding interesting and unique items.
While the location has collectibles like baseball cards and a booth of air soft guns to go with furniture and home improvement items, Gaff has also stocked the venue with such items as a unique fainting couch, hard-to-find signage and even a real player piano that Cesaretti is known to play for customers.
"I want this to be a destination for Northern Indiana," said Gaff.
There is a drawing for a $50 gift card each week.
Gaff also hopes to host upcoming events such as a cruise-in, kiddie carnival and swap meet.
Besides renting out space at the Flea Market, Gaff said people can also hold garage sales there.
There is an even a shoe shine.
Amish candles, breads and produce will also be on hand.
Old 30 West Antique and Flea Market is currently open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gaff said if the need is there he'll open on other days as well.
