Reasons Why #8 - More than just trinkets, treasure

by Meredith Linley

I love flea markets. Now, take that with a grain of salt though because you won’t find me out the door at 6:00am on a Saturday morning ready to be the first one there to peruse that days wares. However if it fits into my Saturday morning schedule a flea market trip is always good for my soul.
Citrus County has several good flea markets, however given my work schedule Howard’s Flea Market in Homosassa is my main spot. I love that place; the cinnamon rolls, the footlong corndogs, the fresh produce. (I really don’t have a problem with food addiction I swear.) Any place that sells plants, books of all kinds, kitchen gadgets, and cowboy hats under one roof is my kind of joint.
Howard’s Flea Market to me is the quintessential flea market. The have a variety of homemade goods, vintage finds, and new products. There is everyone from people who are there every week to people who are there once a year. The produce and plants are beyond compare and the local crafts and arts are hard to beat. Trust me on this one, I’ve seen my fair shares of flea markets. There’s one in Jacksonville that only sells poor quality knock-off handbags, day old bread, and pictures of Michael Corleone accented with plastic AK-47s in a frame.
One thing I particularly love about Howard’s are the “fixtures” there. When I came back to the community I had no doubt that Ms. Avon Marge would still be there, and she was with her usual smile and great line of Skin So Soft products. I also held confidence that the corndog guy and cinnamon roll shop would still be there – and they were.
Perhaps my love of flea markets stems from my deep down desire to be a “yard-sale-er”, but I’ve just never been able to. Yard sales feel like an intrusion on someone’s personal space plus I’m just not a haggler. I try to be non confrontation with strangers at all times, unless the stranger is a Gator fan then its all fair game. Since flea markets are in public places I feel more comfortable.
I will admit, I’m a professional people watcher. I could sit and watch people for hours. If you sit at Howard’s for any period of time (I recommend getting a batch of hot fresh mini donuts and an ice cold root beer while you do) you will see a lot of wonderful people. People from Citrus County bumping into each other, people whose kids played tee ball together in the 80’s or people who used to fish together as kids in Old Homosassa before Yulee Drive was paved.
Highways across the nation are dotted with flea markets every few exits. You can stop off and find oddities and treasure at any one, but at a place like Howard’s you’ll find a community gathering spot. It’s a place that offers more than trinkets and treasures to its customers and it’s just one more reason I love Citrus County.