Exploring a Favorite Flea Market

Review: Eagle Estate Brokers [EEB] Flea Market The Bottom Line: EEP opens the last Friday/Saturday of each month, and on special occasions. Owner Jill Bolden opened with her late business partner Frieda Quinlan in 1994, has been running her indoor flea market since ever since. EEB is going strong and wonderful place to hunt for collectibles. Below are some quotes from the EEB Facebook Page, just to give you an idea of their fantastic inventory: “We have lots of craft/jewelry/beads supply stuff for sale this month. Also have a Van Briggle vase for sale. We still have lots of good bikes for sale $40.00 or less.” “We have another big box of LP's and a box of 45"s plus lots of candle holders, rolls of fabric and lots of new stuff. Small display case, 48" wide, 18" deep.” The flea market is located in a historic neighborhood in the old Eagles Fraternal Order building. The entire first floor is divided into booths, many consigned to vendors. Jill is currently looking for a new vendor; check her Facebook Page. I have had many wonderful “doll” finding adventures at EEB. There are two booths with old Barbies, vintage 60s and 70s dolls, lots of doll clothes, some made appropriately for antique dolls, doll accessories, girls’ toys, plastic doll house furniture, 70s Barbie cases and accessories, and doll parts. Many of these are under $1.00, with many in the $.25-.50 range. Another booth specializes in craft items, including Art Deco flapper faces, vintage vinyl doll heads and parts, material, doll patterns, beads, lace, and sewing notions. There is a booth that features many national costume dolls; recently I purchased a Marin flamenco dancer, a Polish wooden nurse, c. 60s to 70s, a Scottish doll, and a Dutch couple. Other trips, I’ve bought vintage 60s figurines, old china, antique framed law license [to decorate the rooms of my other persona!], prints, needlework supplies, and beads. I missed out on a rare, black Chrissy by Ideal. Another display contained porcelain dolls c. 1980, a Miss Revlon type vinyl [she went home with me], reproduction antique dolls, a mechanical Christmas angel, and a cloth Betty Boop. Doll costumers will be thrilled with the jars of beads, costume jewelry, material, and other findings. There are many craft dolls and holiday dolls and decorations, features up front at the appropriate time. Over the years, I have found Chinese mud figures, vintage and art dolls, many books, small original paintings, some doll themed, photographs, magazines, and doll cases at EEB. There are tens of thousands of items, with new items featured each month. At Christmas, there is a half-price room, and during the year, other items are featured there at half price. Scout troops will find many project options here, and Jill, mother of a Scout herself, is always willing to help with suggestions. Other collectibles include cameras, furniture, household items, appliances and parts, some machines, lots of wooden items. Cons: Only that she is not open every day! Jill is willing to make appointments, however, and she can be called, emailed, or FaceBooked. She is also available on Linked IN. The celebrity-signed photos on the wall prove that EEB is well worth a trip, and it is a fun part of my travel destinations. She is located near a unique coffee shop, Rozz Toxx that uses old manikins in its décor and hosts poetry readings. Also nearby is Skellington Manor, which features an amazing Haunted House with thousands of dollars’ worth of animatronics and a Baby Doll Room with dolls of all types. Take the scaredy cat, lights on tour the last Saturday of October if you really want to see the props.