Garage Sale Bonanza opens July 10

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

June 28, 2009 11:00 pm

— SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — Tables lined with porcelain dolls, glass vases, video tapes and Santa Claus statues fill the former Big Lots store in the Saybrook Plaza, merchandise brought from basements, attics and garages across Ashtabula County.
After months of collecting items of every shape and size, volunteers are rushing to clean, tag, price and display hundreds of thousands of items before the Garage Sale Bonanza sale next weekend.
“We have so many wonderful items this year,” sale coordinator Dick Mueller said. “From a punching bag to rows of bikes and shelves full of videos, if you want it, chances are we have it for sale here.”
The Garage Sale Bonanza will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 10, 11, 12, with a pre-sale July 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Presale entry fee is $10.
The sale, which is coordinated by the Wellness and Total Learning Center, benefits 10 charities including the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League, the Wellness and Total Learning Center, Geneva Lions Club, Spiderweb of Jefferson, LIVING! With Cancer, Faith in Action Caregivers, Habitat for Humanity, Young Marines, Dream Center and Friends of Children’s Services.
“We are excited to announce our annex this year,” Mueller said. “This extra space will showcase our ‘best stuff’ corner with antiques and more valuable collectibles, jewelry, and Christmas items.”
The annex is located in an empty storefront next to the former Big Lots storefront.
Mueller said customers will get to choose which door to enter first at the pre-sale.
“Customers will either start in the annex or the main building,” he said. “We are leaving the choice up to them.”
In the “best stuff” corner, antique trunks, furniture, sewing machines, porcelain dolls, china and glassware are prepared for sale. Christmas items include artificial trees, indoor and outdoor holiday lights, a table full of Santa Claus figurines, flowers, ornaments and artificial wreaths.
Coordinator Mary Martin said she is excited by the number of collectible dolls and the vast selection of books available at the sale.
Mueller said he is impressed by the number of bicycles, exercise equipment, books, video tapes and DVD’s and large and small appliances on sale. The furniture department is also stocked with dressers, chairs, tables and many, many couches, he said.
The sale will also include a food court, Mueller said.
“This place really is a Mecca for bargain hunters,” Mueller said. “We have coffee makers, microwaves and all sorts of other appliances, including kitchen ranges.”
“The sale is something people in the area really look forward to, and we are proud to offer great bargains in such difficult economic times,” he said.

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