Nomadic Trading Company

We made the trek to Punxsatawney today to check out the Nomadic Trading Company. It was a 3 hour ride each way, and I am sorry to say we only stayed for 90 minutes! This place is well-​marketed on their website. The descriptions and photographs are very enticing. But, as experienced «antiquers», we’ve been in markets all over the country. I can say, for us, it was not worth the trip. We were hopeful we could find some more pieces for the kitchen we are restoring in our 1780s farm house. It is of Pennsylvania German construction and we are always on the lookout for early American PA German /​Dunkard /​Mennonite items. Today, Nomadic had a flea market on the first floor — all items under $ 20 — as well as their usual offerings on the second floor. We found the flea market to be small in comparison to typical Adamstown or other SE Pennsylvania markets. We did nab an old crock for $ 5 — and headed upstairs — expecting to see the many rooms chock full of rustic country treasures. We found the halls teeming with patrons — many looked like they were from out of town. We went from booth to booth and found many of them to be small — quite a few were craft-​oriented. More than half had antiques — and there was quite a bit of furniture including a nice selection of dry sinks, cupboards, chests, tables, trunks, cabinets, dressers, etc. The kitchen items tended to be distressed rough /​country items — as pulled from old homes in the area. Many were very attractive and one or two could have fit the bill. The problem, however, was the price. Generally-​speaking, prices in Punxsatawney were defintely up! Old Phil must be bathing in the sun on a tropical island from the proceeds from this place. Pieces that would typically fetch $ 75 to $ 300 at auction and at markets in the small towns (Duncannon, Hanover, Columbia, Carlisle, Lemoyne) near us, were priced at 3 to 4 times that. There simply were no bargains to be had. I am in no way saying the prices were above market — the proprieters clearly know their business — we just realized we could do better closer to home. I did manage to rescue an «Old Reading Beer» tray that was far from home for only $ 20 — usually fetches $ 75 or so in Berks County. I also found a 1909 childrens version of «Uncle Tom’s Cabin» for only $ 9. But, the other items I inquired about were too high! I suppose if you were looking for just the right item, and you saw it here, you would not go wrong to buy it at market. But, we must be spoiled by the number of markets and the size of them within an hour from Mechanicsburg. My question is – who were the people skalking about this place along with us? They weren’t Punxsatawney natives — Pittsburghers? State Colllege Professors? New York dealers who drove out Route 80? I wish the owners well — they have a quite a good business model.