To Some, Junk. To Others, a Treasure Chest

The sound of light negotiations and laughter filled my ears as I approached Lincoln Street in downtown Santa Cruz Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of shoppers danced in and out of vendor’s tables that were filled with any item one could imagine. There was an aura of contentment and simple appreciation for the little trinkets in life and those not so little, too. 1970s records and every kind of jewelry made, all white patio furniture and seasonal clothing among endless other commodities decorated the concrete on the sun-shining, nippy afternoon. Buyers were surrounded by vintage merchandise that satisfied the needs of every interest and personality. 

It was the second sunday of November, the monthly Santa Cruz antique fair. With numerous eateries and clothing stores lining Pacific Avenue just one street up, visitors who were awake bright and early at the 7 a.m. opening of the fair could grab a cup of coffee and a bite to eat as they shopped. The set up was both accommodating but simple as the amount of stock would have been overwhelming if not so orderly.  

“Usually it’s just anything older. It has to have age and quality.” said vendor Todd Guin regarding their stock. It was he and his girlfriend’s first time at this particular antique fair, usually participating in the ones further north Bay. The two said there was no telling what would sell. A sold out item at one fair may have no value to the shoppers at another. “We just buy [stuff], some for our own collection, some we sell,”  said Todd’s girlfriend Wendy Harris. “We usually like the lamps and the ceramic dogs.” Everything else was random. 

Most sellers seemed to have their own particular assortment of material for sale. Outdated cameras, vases, purses, boots, silverware, books and dream catchers were all items that could be found along the street. “It’s about chasing your treasures and selling your treasures,” Cindy, a veteran vendor at the antique fair said, after selling a suede jacket that could easily be worth over $100 to a young man for only $10, “It’s not about the money.” She separated the fair by stations. Cindy saw each vendor by section and what they were known for selling, but to the eye of a newcomer there was too much stuff to differentiate. 

By the end of my trip, it was clear that from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. every second sunday of the month, downtown Santa Cruz was full of culture and artifacts. To see a community be so joined by a unique interest with such personal variation was priceless. One UC Santa Cruz student, Erin Powless, hit her jackpot in the clothing the fair offered. She had found two trendy shirts for just five dollars. “They have everything,” she said, “Come out and support the local community.”