60 Fun Things (Within 60 Miles) with Connie Herrera
A Fall Ramble on Routes 5 & 20
Antique Shops & Flea Markets: An Entire Highway of Fun
I have antiquing in my blood—my mother and grandmother began their careers as antiques dealers lugging boxes of old tins and advertising signs to flea markets, graduating into a real storefront, and finally acquiring an elegant shop in the Manhattan Art & Antiques Center specializing in antiques for men—think desk accessories, canes, and scientific instruments. Up until this year, I’ve kept my collections at home, but realized that my passion for hammered aluminum was outgrowing the available storage, and decided to sell some of them at a local antiques mall. That reminded me of what an amazing antique-hunter’s paradise we have along Routes 5 & 20.
American Pickers found deals here and you will, too. Routes 5 & 20 have more antique shops and flea markets than just about anywhere else in New York State. Rummage through jumbles of old furniture, tools, kitchen kitsch, and all sorts of historic and mysterious treasures. You may even find that the stuff of your childhood is now considered “retro” or even “antique.” Who knows, you may even spot something that will show up on the next Antiques Roadshow or make you a fortune at an auction.
This is also a great outing with the grandkids–they’ll have questions for you about weird old oddities, and you’ll have stories to share about the things you find from life when you were their age. Another thing they’ll love is that a kid’s allowance goes a long way in these treasure shops.
The full route runs from Darien in the West to Skaneateles in the East, but my favorite part to explore is from Avon to Bloomfield and I’ve listed a few shops along that section. Visit www.routes5and20.com for maps and stores, or just take a drive and stop wherever your curiosity takes you.
The best part is that you’ll have a lot of fun and reminiscences–even if you don’t buy a thing!
Some Shops from Avon to Bloomfield:
East Avon Sunday Flea Market (runs through October)
1520 Rt. 15
Avon, NY 14414
585-226-8320
The Trading Post
110 West Main Street
Avon, New York 14414
585-226-9399
Arts and Artifacts
73 10 East Main ST.
Lima, NY 14485
Crossroads Country Mall
7348 East Main St.
Lima, NY 14485
585-624-1993
Lima Antiques
1804 Rochester St.
Lima, NY 14485
585-624-4700
The Furniture Doctor
7007 Routes 5 & 20
Bloomfield, NY 14469
585-657-7117
Antique Depot
2 East Main Street
Bloomfield, NY 14469
585-657-7117
One Potato Two
6900 Routes 5 & 20
Bloomfield, NY 14469
585-657-7446
Peddler’s Antiques
6980 Routes 5 & 20
Bloomfield, NY 14469
585-657-4869
Sean Fagan Old & Rare Books
6883 Routes 5 & 20
Bloomfield, NY 14469
585-657-7096
Connie Herrera is the author of 60 Fun Things to Do Within 60 Miles of Rochester, 60 Great Places to Go With Kids Within 60 Miles of Rochester, and her newest book 60 Fun Things to Do When You’re Retired – Within 60 Miles of Rochester. “My goal is to help people rediscover where they live and see it with new eyes. So, if you’re new to the area, I want you to be astounded at your luck in moving here. If you’re here for a visit, I hope you’ll want to come back again to do more. And, if you’ve lived here all your life, I hope you’ll be surprised at how many places you haven’t yet explored and how many you want to visit again!” You can find out more at my website: 60funthingstodo