Enclosed winter garage sale ideal for efficient shopping

With 70 booths under one roof, the Osage Community Centre was a garage sale shopper's paradise Saturday.

"It's a great crowd. Everyone's out shopping," said Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation manager Penny Williams. The number of booths was up from 65 last year, she said.

Williams' booth was heaped with toys and clothes at the beginning of the sale, but was down to odds and ends of clothing and one teddy bear an hour before closing.

A couple of booths run by service club members from Lamplighters and Town and Country FCE were earning money to help with community service projects that help families, veterans and residents at Cottonwood Treatment Center and Parkview School. Goods filling their tables had been donated by club members.

Items of interest included a used plastic toilet seat for $1, a bright red D cup bra without a price, a well-used school-bus yellow chain saw for $35 and a bag of weathered wooden clothespins for 50 cents.

John Spies of Jackson said that booth space is allotted by a random drawing with first picks getting the best spaces.

"If you get a booth by the door, people pass you twice," he said.

He's been a vendor at least half a dozen times over the past few years. Some tools, a couple of computers and stuff he cleaned out from the garage fill the space at his booth. He said vendors get more exposure at the community center than having a garage sale at home. Sometimes he walks away with as little as $40, sometimes with more than $100, Spies said. Booth space costs $11.80.

Michelle Ganeles and her mother, Virginia Welker, were proud of the deals they got. Arriving shortly after opening at 8 a.m., the mother-and-daughter team had managed to stuff four bags and a box with home decor and toys.

"Fifty cents is the most I paid for any toy," Ganeles said. "Since I came here with $30 and am leaving with $21.25, I think I did pretty well."

Her purchases included a new throw, a wreath, Transformers, football and baseball helmets and other toys.

Welker was happy with an antique berry bowl and serving dishes rimmed in gold. She didn't know how old the items were but was proud to have talked the vendor down from $30 to $25.

A spring garage sale at the Osage Centre is scheduled for May 6.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133