Longmont Local: Front Range Mercantile is home of trinkets, unexpected treasures

What do you get when you bring together 21,000 square feet of eclectic antiques and collectibles, 90 vendors, and a straightforward selling approach? Longmont’s Front Range Mercantile.

The indoor flea market has been part of the community for more than three decades. Through the years, it’s been a haven for nostalgia lovers, history buffs and anyone who appreciates a good deal.

According to co-owner Vicky Andrew, the Mercantile started in 1989 as a “hobby that turned into a business.” She first hosted her own booth in 1991 and became a partner in 1996.

Through the years, the establishment has grown so much that new vendors, many of whom sell nationally in addition to coming to Longmont, often have to wait as many as two years for a stall.

“We repurpose here, we reuse, we recycle. And so many of the people who come in here have been coming for 28, even 30 years,” Andrew said. “They think of us as their friends. And we are. We base our business on honesty.”

Andrew has seen a lot of sold goods in the time she’s been part of the Mercantile. She loves chintz dishes and, when pressed, shared there has been a rare find or two that goes on to resell for far more than its purchase price.

“We’ve had things that sell in here for $20 and then resold for something like $30,000,” she said before moving on to the story behind the sale. “That sale was a little decanter-type jar. It has two coin faces on it, one was a famous person, and no one knew who the other was. The buyers ended up putting it online and sold it for a large amount of money. They found out the decanter was a commemorative piece.”

There have been some, though not many, moments that are part of running the business that have been just as memorable. One of them involved a tricky decision to close on Sundays, which Andrew estimated was made five or six years ago.

She said that when they first decided to do it, people questioned whether it would affect their business. 

“You know, it didn’t hurt us at all. If people want to come in, they work around our time schedule. We try to be here as much as we can, lately I’ve been here six days a week. I’m really glad I have Sunday off,” Andrew said.

Another notable moment was the move from the former location to the current spot at 1201 S. Sunset St. 

“In 2004, we bought the building and moved all of the stuff from one building to the other in four days. That’s a memory,” she said. 

 

Recently, the stresses of the times are proving a challenge. 

“This last year has been a tough one,” Andrew said before turning the conversation in a positive direction by talking about the staff she’s assembled in the midst of many changes. “But we’re still here. We’ve got a good staff and I couldn’t do it without them. The store feels good because the staff really cares.”

That feeling carries through to the customers. 

Longmont resident Dave Lohman visits the Mercantile once or twice a year and recently brought his brother from out of town. 

“He was very curious about it and excited to see what he saw. I like it too. I really love seeing things that are old and well cared for. It’s a cool place,” Lohman said.