Bargain Hunters unite! Main Street’s first Street Bazaar and yard sale
The first Main Street Bazaar and yard sale will be held Saturday, Jan. 16 in the communities along Main Street, Fort Myers Beach, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on San Carlos Island, at the north end of the Sky Bridge.
With such a large event in the works, the multiple communities along Main Street came together and formed a committee to organize and plan the hopefully-annual bazaar.
Craig Marshall, a five-year seasonal resident of Toronto, assisted with promoting the event.
“There are about a half-dozen communities, about 14 separate entities total, along Main Street, down to the Port Carlos Cove community, which is right near Parrot Key,” Craig said. “Many of the communities would often hold separate yard sales every year, and we thought we should just hold all of them on the same day, which would be so much more for people to do and see.”
Several local businesses and communities have joined together to provide an opportunity for visitors and residents to enjoy plenty of savings and to find the perfect yard sale bargain and treasure, one street at a time.
“Semmer Electric was so great, supplying the hoist to hang our large bazaar banner over the Sky Bridge,” Craig said.
Bill Arendt, head organizer of the bazaar committee, is sure to send an additional thank you to another local business.
“Thanks to Semmer Electric, and also Dan’s Signs, who made our banners and posters,” he said.
While bargain-shopping, enjoy live music from Chucky From Kentucky at the Port Carlos Cove community from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A pancake breakfast will begin at the Oyster Bay community at 8 a.m., complete with coffee, donuts and more, and stroll by some of the local vendors that will be set up.
“We’ll have all types of great food: brats, hamburgers, baked goods. Some of the girls are setting up a pie table with all types of sweet items,” Craig said, while then chuckling, “and there will be at least one clown riding up and down the street.”
As for parking, Craig is eager there won’t be a problem, as “Salty Sam’s may let visitors park in their lot, and the Port Carlos Cove community has a big parking area avaliable, so we should have adequate parking.”
While shopping and bargain-hunting, or once you’re done and wrapping up the bargain-hunting, stop by some of the nearby merchants, such as Beach Seafood, Big Game, TRICO Seafood, Dan’s Signs and Key West Express, for special discounts, raffles, drink specials and more.
“When you’re all done shopping, come by for a cold drink and great pizza,” said Brad Lewis, managing partner of the all-new Big Game Bar and Grill, stationed in the old Key West Express building.
There is no fee to enter the bazaar or yard sales. Main Street will remain open for passers by.
“This is the first year of the bazaar, so we don’t know how many vendors we’ll have, but we’re hoping it will build and get greater every year. We’d really like this to be an annual event,” Craig said. “Come check out the bargains, have a bratwurst or hamburger and just have a good time.”
As Bill concludes, “Come down and enjoy the day. There’s breakfast, there’s lunch, there’s something for everyone, new and old.”