Yard sale attracts visitors from near and far
Sunday, May 11, 2008
TRENTON — Department stores have Black Friday — the busiest shopping day of the year — in November; but Trenton has Black Friday, Black Saturday and Black Sunday, otherwise known as the annual citywide yard sale.
Each year, residents hawk their wares on the third weekend of May. The event this year officially runs Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18, but residents often start selling as early as Friday.
Extras
Whenever it starts, residents, officials and business owners are bracing for an onslaught of thousands of bargain hunters and antique seekers who come from as far as Pennsylvania.
"It is crazy. It is out-the-door crazy," said Alicia Hall, describing business at Trenton's AmeriStop, where she is a relief manager. "It is complete madness, and I've been here for seven years, trust me."
Skyline Chili sees its business nearly double from a typical weekend, said Trish Hartman, the manager of the State Street location.
"It's one of the busiest days of the year for sure," she said, though she does wonder whether high gas prices might discourage attendance somewhat.
It won't discourage Judith McQuinn of Middletown, who plans to return to the yard sale for the first time in several years. One time, her sister bought a roll of wallpaper for 25 cents and was able to redecorate her bathroom.
"I've gotten lots of bargains there. When I go back this year I'm going to get the good stuff," she said.
Still, for every person who's really into the yard sale, there's another who'd rather be out of the yard sale — as in literally out of town.
Resident Lary Rhodes once tried to move on the day of the yard sale, to his everlasting regret.
"We had rented a U-Haul and it was sitting outside our house as we loaded it. I would come out and there would be people looking through our belongings, hoping to find a bargain. By the time we had a decent load on the truck, my nerves and patience were gone," Rhodes recalled.
"Trying to pull out of my own driveway was a nightmare. People would continue to funnel in while I was trying to get out," he said. "Once out and on the road, it took me about 20- to 30 minutes to go about 1 mile to my new house. ... To this day, I'll go out of town (if possible) during the yard sales."
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.
