Pontiac, Ill. -Walking into a flea market one will never know what might be found. Such a place has opened in Pontiac.
Vermilion Street Flea Market Antiques and Collectibles will have its grand opening on Thursday. It is located at 802 W. Water St. It will be open for business every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jesse Gray is the owner. He is 21 and moved to Pontiac three months ago from Michigan. Gray is a former military police officer and served in the Army National Guard in Michigan. He also is the assistant manager at Wendy’s restaurant in Pontiac.
“My business is a flea market. I sell nice, reasonable furniture, antiques and collectibles,” said Gray. “I have been open now for a couple of weeks and business has been good so far.”
He came to Pontiac after doing some research in the antique market.
“I felt like this would be a great place to open a business and I hope this will become a full-time career for me in near future,” said Gray.
“I buy my items from places like eBay, state closure auctions, and other people. Some of the best collectables that I have received though have been from eBay,” said Gray.
Gray has had an interest in furniture for most of his life. Although he has not had any real formal training, most of his furniture background and furniture business knowledge stems from his carpentry skills.
“Even though I have not built anything recently, in the past I have built furniture a lot of different types of furniture,” said Gray. “I enjoy making items such as coffee tables, canes, dressers and I have even upholstered furniture. I have built a little bit of everything when you think about it.”
When you walk inside the store and after walking around a bit, you can find antiques, knick-knacks, beds, jewelry, pictures, household furniture and other flea market items.
“The furniture inside my store is not your tyical furniture,” said Gray. “Take for example the two castle style beds found in the front of my store. They are reasonably priced. … I have bedroom furniture that matches it, too.
“I also have other unique items that I sell besides furniture and do my best to keep my prices reasonable not much more than what I pay for them,” said Gray.
People can go in and trade items or buy items.
“I try to do it within reason though,” he said.
The typical age of his customers’ ranges from 40-60, however there is something in his store for just about anyone who is interested in buying a unique item or a collectible, he said.
“I have noticed though a lot of people will come and look around and will usually leave with about $70 worth of items,” said Gray. “One thing about my store there is always something that will capture someone’s interest.
“A person can come in and take a walk around either the front or in the back. They will always find something unique to look at or they will definitely find something they will want to buy.”
He hopes to expand his business in the years to come but for right now he just is focusing on the one business and giving great service to his new customers.

Source : www.pontiacdailyleader.com