Handshoe’s Flea Market & Salvage Is a DIYer’s Dream Destination

Nearly 26 years ago, Larry Handshoe began operating Handshoe’s Flea Market out of his little garage off of his house. He went around to various wholesale places buying knickknacks, statues and toys, then on the weekends set up shop at farmers markets to sell the merchandise. Several years later he got into the salvage industry, and now Handshoe’s Flea Market & Salvage in Rome City is primarily a salvage business.

“We’ve had customers come in and ask where the flea market part of the business is, but mostly we’re salvage now,” says Kenny Bontrager, who began working at Handshoe’s a year ago.

In December 2016, Handshoe erected his first building on the property next door to his business – a 70-by-120-foot structure, which the staff quickly filled up with inventory. Soon they put up a second building. Now the business includes three massive buildings, along with additional merchandise kept outside.

JoOnna Cobler and her sister have been helping their dad run the business ever since they were in elementary school. The family-run business also includes Handshoe’s wife, siblings, in-laws and close family friends. One of the favorite tasks among employees is sorting through all the different products that come in each day.

“It’s never the boredom of having the same thing,” says Bontrager. “We have anything and everything.”

They sell flooring, appliances, indoor and outdoor furniture, home decor and more. Every day is a different shopping excursion since inventory changes constantly. They sell whatever comes up for them to buy, from sofas and recliners to forklifts and RV-related items.

“You never know what will be here,” says Bontrager. “Last January we had just about sold out of sofas, but currently we have close to 1,000 sofas and recliners in stock. In a few months, who knows what will be here?”

Cobler, who oversees the eBay side of the business, also gets excited when new inventory arrives.

“I like picking out the stuff I know will sell well for my dad,” Cobler says.

Merchandise comes and goes, and they always have drivers out on the roads picking up new inventory. They have three to six 24-foot cargo trailers come in each day.

“We don’t go to places looking to pick out what we want to buy,” Bontrager says. “Instead, we’ll say, ‘We’ll give you this amount of money for the contents of the building,’ then we load it all onto semi trucks.’”

Photo by Kari Lipscomb

Because of this constant flux of inventory, it’s wise to stop by Handshoe’s regularly to see what they’ve got. If you don’t find what you’re looking for today, you just might tomorrow.

They don’t regularly offer weekly deals, but when they have a huge stockpile of a certain item, they run discounts to deplete inventory. For example, last summer they had tons of fiberglass ladders, so they ran a one-week deal for $25 per ladder. In December they got more than 400 flip-up-lid ottomans with storage on the inside. When they have large quantities of stock or special deals, they’ll post those to their Facebook page to alert the public. Also, when they have excess inventory and are running out of space to store it, they’ll hold an auction on the grounds. They usually have two per year, but may have as many as four.

“If we get overstocked, we’ll say, ‘In a month we’re going to need to have an auction,’” Bontrager says. “We basically clean up what we have sitting around on the outside, fill a bunch of trailers and downsize. By the next auction, we’re filled up again.”

They sometimes do online auctions as well.

Handshoe’s is a DIYer’s dream. Anyone looking for a product to install themselves should come check out the latest inventory because they’ve got pre-finished styles, pre-finished doors, paneling, carpeting, linoleum, shiplap, raw wood trim – you name it.

“I’ve redone my own house using stuff from here,” Bontrager says. “I built my own cabinets out of wood I’ve gotten from here. I waited until I found the right brackets that came through to build my canning shelves. We have stuff for all kinds of projects.”

Peruse with an open mind, as Handshoe’s is not laid out like a big-box store with clearly marked aisles. It’s best to just browse and see what you come across.

“It’s easy to miss something because we’re so full and have a huge inventory,” Bontrager says. “But if you can’t find something, just ask. Also, stretch your mind to think, ‘This might work instead.’”

Bontrager loves nothing more than when a customer asks him to help locate something. He may have to spend an hour digging it out, but when he sees the smile on his customer’s face, it’s worth it.

Since the day he started his business, Handshoe has been committed to taking care of the community. For instance, every December he organizes an annual toy drive. Last year 400 children came by to pick out a toy. In addition, he donated building supplies to help build local schools in the neighborhood. Then neighbors came out to help erect the structures.

“He’s donated money and so many items,” Bontrager says. “He greatly cares about this community, which is one of my favorite things about him.”

Handshoe’s Flea Market & Salvage is located at 835 West Northport Road in Rome City. For more information, call 260-854-4324. Check out their Facebook page @handshoesfleamarketllclkk.

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