Hartville, Ohio — The tourism division of the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce has developed a new map and online shopping guide to help visitors discover Hartville-area antique and thrift shops. The Hartville Antique and Thrift Trail takes shoppers on a self-guided tour to 16 businesses that offer antiques and vintage, resale clothing and home decor, upcycled handmade items, and a wide range of collectibles and flea market finds.
Hartville is a unique destination for those who enjoy antiquing and thrifting. “Each year at the Hartville Marketplace and Flea Market we see close to a million guests looking for a large variety of items. Some are looking for fresh produce, some are looking for antiques and collectibles and others are just looking for that unique find. Antiquers have always called us, "a treasure hunter’s paradise" because you really never know what you will find out here and the stories behind the treasures that are found,” commented Seth Coblentz, General Manager.
Trail locations are situated along the two-mile stretch of the West Maple Street corridor from Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market to Historic Downtown Hartville. The close proximity of the shops and walkability of many locations in the historic downtown makes a visit to Hartville an ideal spot while gas prices are high. Planning an excursion and using the map to plot a route helps minimize mileage and save a little money while still enjoying a shopping adventure.
Thrifting and antiquing have long been associated with the Hartville area. A growing trend combines that pastime with traveling and collecting items while visiting different towns. The new trail guide emerged from an increase in the number of requests to the Chamber for a list of antique and resale shops in the area.
According to Hartville Thrift Shoppe General Manager Phil Stauffer, “Thrifting has continually grown. Some people make a business of thrifting, finding a great deal, and reselling. There’s a trend among the younger generation to thrift shop for affordable, interesting, and vintage fashion, and practically speaking, parents use it as an affordable way to augment their need to clothe a growing family.”
The Chamber encourages people to visit multiple shops and locations on the Antique and Thrift Trail. “There are shops on the list that are 1-2 years old, many that have been staples in the community for 10, 20, and 30 years, and the flea market has been in town since 1939. Hartville has become the perfect place to spend a day or two scouring the trail for those one-of-a-kind finds,” notes Megan Wise, Discover Hartville tourism coordinator.
The Hartville Antique & Thrift Trail can be found at www.discoverhartville.com/antiquethrifttrail and printed maps are located at participating businesses.
For more information, contact tourism@lakechamber.com, call 330-877-5500, or visit discoverhartville.com.