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July 25, 2004Everything but the fleasByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - When the flea market closes up for the night, Al Reierson's book and antique sales often continue. "A lot of times, I'll sell after dark to other dealers there," said Reierson of Thompsonville, who visits about five shows per year to sell the rare books and antiques he's collected. He's one of many people who earn or supplement their incomes visiting the dozens of flea markets and specialty shows that run mostly in the summer. Reierson enjoys the experience, but is also selective about where and when he does it. "I wouldn't do it if I didn't have good enough stuff to make that much," said Reierson, whose visits to the shows supplement income he and wife Linda earn from on-line book sales. While money is the primary motivator, they also enjoy chatting with the customers and bonding with the other sellers. "If I go to the bathroom, the other one watches the other's stock," Reierson said. Rob and Tammy Lucal of Traverse City deal in antique fishing and boating equipment and do mostly specialty shows. "I have it bad," Rob said. "Boats, motors, reels, creels, buckets, all of it." They also enjoy the occasional flea market. "Sometimes it's solid dust at those places," he said, but added that some of the large flea markets are a "great place to find a diamond in the rough." Like others, he also scouts antique shops, auctions and estate and yard sales. "It's more fun to find something covered in dust for $5 than cleaned and under glass for $150," he said. "It's just like a full-time scavenger hunt." Between the flea markets and specialty shows, they've done up to 36 in a year, Rob said. That includes traveling throughout the United States, including to a flea market in Canton, Texas, that is reputedly the largest flea market in the world. "People sit in line for three days before they even let them in to get their spots," Rob said. "When they open, it's like the Oklahoma land rush." Amy Garske of Copemish exhibits at a flea market only once a year. She spends the time in between collecting stuff. "I just do Buckley (Old Engine Show)," she said. "I sell dishes, Tupperware, books, cookbooks, Pyrex dishes; stuff I like." She likes seeing the same people year after year come to her stand. "The same people will look me up because I usually set up in the same spot," she said. While she enjoys doing the shows, she couldn't do it all the time. "It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun," Garske said.
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