A Collective Gathering in Potter is celebrating 19 years in business and the folks there are excited to begin their 20th year.
The unique business venture opened April 1, 2004. The sprawling 2,500 square footage building on Chestnut Street that holds the flea market has 30 booths and 22 different vendors.
The flea market is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The business model includes a management team of two and eight volunteers to help work the store every day, all women. These daily workers operate the store, greeting tourists from all over the state and country.
A Collective Gathering offers a lot – an assortment of collectibles, antiques, vintage and handmade items and flea market finds that make for hours of looking and shopping.
Specialty items include handmade pottery by a local artisan, collectible rocks, handmade wheat weaving by a local artisan, Nebraska souvenirs and gift food items, such as soup mixes, bread mixes, honey, jellies, apple butter, asparagus, popcorn and salt water taffy.
Handmade items by local crafters include home & wall décor, seasonal items, Nebraska-made candles, magnets, jewelry, rugs, sewn items, ornaments, and cards.
Vintage items that can be found at ACG are tools, linens, jewelry, crocks, furniture, glassware, dishes, coins and toys.
The Potter Historical Foundation owns the building that houses A Collective Gathering at 326 Chestnut. The building was built in 1910 and has housed a variety of businesses over the century, beginning as a hardware store, then becoming a grocery store and another hardware store.
The building is owned by the Potter Historical Foundation. When the PHF acquired this building, a flea market was a suggestion made to have something that the community needed and to keep this large building on the main street from being vacant. Several board members and community members initially were skeptical but supported the adventure.
As of today, 19 years later, there is a waiting list to be a vendor.
The Duckpin Bowling Alley, party room, and Art Loft Studio are located on the second floor of this building.
The store also has a FaceBook page.