Unique antiques draw visitors from near and far
Staff writer
Among the scads of antique stores in Marion County is one with two locations with a word-of-mouth buzz that brings customers from surrounding states and from as far away as Florida for repeat trips.
Bearly Makin-It Antiques, with a downtown Marion shop and a more spread-out collection in two barns and a shed at 573 Walnut St., has anything an antique seeker or curiosity hunter could want.
The array of goods runs the gamut from vintage metal lawn chairs to baby baskets, furniture in various condition, old school desks, candelabras, furniture, retail display and storage racks, high chairs, rocking chairs for kids and adults, and mismatched dining chairs.
Have an affinity for Barite Roses? You can find them there.
Need a player for your 78 rpm records? Bearly Makin-It has a Victrola just for you.
Lynn and Nancy Houtman, Harrison, Arkansas, came to peruse goods at the Walnut St. location Memorial Day weekend. Houtman’s daughter, who lives at Nickerson, co-owners Marion Ogden and Dennis Maggard at a flea market and was so impressed with their booth that she insisted her parents see the place.
“We’re antique nuts, so we had to come up and see,” Houtman said. “For 10 to 15 years, we used to go to Walnut, Iowa, to Antique City.”
Houtman’s recent visit was his second to Bearly Makin-It.
“It likely won’t be the last, either,” Houtman said.
Larry and Ashley King of Newton didn’t drive as far to reach Bearly Makin-It. They brought their daughter for a return trip to peruse the merchandise.
“Last time, my little drama queen didn’t make it out of the car,” King said.
This time she enjoyed the shopping expedition.
Odessa Gouker came with her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Dawn Barnes, from Marietta, Oklahoma, for the express purpose of seeing the shop.
“A friend came up here for two or three days and told me, ‘You have got to do this,’” Gouker said.
Bearly Makin-It has been in business since the mid-1994 and both locations are open every 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and at other times by appointment.