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Zern's Vendor Spotlights |
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WHICH CAME FIRST? THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?
ERUDITE EGG NEST VENDOR at ZERN'S GIVES THE ANSWER!
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We asked one of Zern's Farmers Market's erudite vendors, Richard “Rick” Mitchell, owner of the popular THE EGG NEST, the nearly unanswerable question. With a chuckle, Rick responded: “If you are looking into evolution, it would be the egg. But from a religious point of view it would be the chicken! “ From either perspective, you will find the freshest eggs and delicious freshly cooked chickens for sale at THE EGG NEST.
A few more answers to questions everyone has, like where do brown eggs come from? The answer is (Cackle Cackle ) - - Brown Chickens! And how do you know how to find double yolked eggs? These, Richard told me, come from young birds. “After the first laying season, the hens lay eggs with usually just one yolk.”
For seventeen years, Richard worked in a large company office as a computer support person. Except for having his brother working at the next desk, it was a fairly sterile environment. One day his brother mentioned that the owners of the The Egg Nest at Zern's Farmers Market, might be for sale. At least the owner was joking about selling…….!
Rick reasoned that a joke that the former owners MIGHT sell, could have some truth in it, and sure enough, Rich made an offer and soon happily took over the Egg Nest. That was ten years ago. The customers keep on coming back, and Rick and his wife Carolyn now run the business where they used to shop for twenty years! The Egg Nest, by the way, was owned for forty years by Jonathan and Katie Amos.The former owners have now given their stamp of approval to Rick's good cooking and marketing skills.
Rich now has more time with his two sons, Eric, aged eleven and Spencer, nine years old- - he likes the title of "House Dad.". Wife Carolyn, who used to do child care as a licensed facility, went out and got her real estate license, a dream she had always wanted to pursue. On Friday nights, you will find her at THE EGG NEST.
The big sellers at THE EGG NEST are VERY fresh eggs, including double yolk eggs on request, a barbecued chicken based on a Amish recipe, ham shanks and sauteed gizzards and mushrooms, all marinated in a tasty marinade made from seven secret spices in Lancaster, Penna. All these specialties are prepared fresh from scratch on Friday before the market opens to the public
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Rick's
Auction
610-367-9715
AUCTIONS and SALES EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY YEAR ROUND!
Ricks Auction Service AH000013L
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WILLIAM
RICK : AUCTIONEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
When Willy Rick was a little kid, he came to Zern's Farmers
Market, hanging onto his mother's skirt. Now one of our favorite
"ZERNIES," Rick and his auction have been running
continuously for forty-four years. With a background in
carpentry and wood working, Rick, as everyone calls him, was
employed at the Boyertown Casket Company until they went out of
business. Paul Weller, a fellow cabinetmaker, said "You
oughta be an auctioneer," after hearing Rick warble in
auctioneer's lingo while carving the caskets!
This encouragement started Rick out on the path to success,
first working for Louie Adams who used to run the household
auction at Zerns. "I started with women's clothing,"
said Rick. Louie used the young man to auction women's clothing
and unmentionables just to see him blush. Mr. and Mrs. Lipton,
the market owners, thought at twenty, Rick was too young but
were pleasantly surprised when they watched young Willy in
action.
With a vast cornucopia of household goods, antique toys,
Longaberger baskets and junk, Mr. Rick also handles estate
auctions, and often sees the same item be re-auctioned three or
four times from the different owners. One Gaudy Dutch ironware
teapot, circa 1812, chipped and cracked, sold for $3000, eagles
banks brought $200. On Saturday mornings, Rick does Tailgate
Sales, and then sell off the tables, and he'll auction anything
from box lots to entire estates, antiques, household goods etc.
Mrs. Ruth Rick helps her husband to run the auction, and while
some of the new generation does much of the sales, Rick still
auctions a couple of hours a day. There is a steady group of
fans; some have been coming for thirty years, to occupy the
seventy-five seats at RICKS Auction. Though Rick often
gets the request "Sell my wife,"we have never seen
that happen yet.
For more information, contact William Rick, Rick's Auction at
610-367-9715,
AUCTIONS and SALES EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY YEAR ROUND.
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BanjoJimmy
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BANJO
JIMMY
LIGHTS
UP THE WEEKENDS AT ZERN'S |
Banjo Jimmy LaRue, age 64, is one of our favorite 'Zernies"
and if you are lucky, you can meet him on a Friday or Saturday
night in Center Court or walking through the aisles,
strummin' and jammin' at Zerns Farmers Market. Born in
Coatsville, Pennsylvania, and currently a resident of Leola
resident, Jimmy started banjo pickin' when he was eight years
old.
Jimmy recalled that, "Stepgranddad owned a little banjo and
he used go up to the attic to play sometimes. One day, I sneaked
up to the attic and tried it, one string at time, little ditties
like "You are My Sunshine."
Of course, he got caught, when his grandfather came home
unexpectedly one day. Jimmy was scared of getting spanked up in
the attic, but - - instead of a licking, Granddad said"
"I want to hear you do that again, boy!"
"I was so scared, I started playing on one string, but
granddad got the guitar out and played along on the chords with
me! And after he passed away, I taught myself all the
chords.".
Years later, Jimmy LaRue got his wish to play with the famous
Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Never married, Banjo Jimmy used to work with ponies, setting up
rides for happy children at festivals and schools in a tri-state
area. Many people remember him working for eighteen years at
John G. Stump gas stations, and in theatres in the Lancaster
region. On weekends at Zern's Farmers Market, Banjo Jimmy is
often joined by Paul Painter from New Jersey, and Bob Krieder of
Lancaster on the bass fiddle. Not long ago, a customer who
played a mean harmonica joined in.
Catch Banjo Jimmy and his cronies at Zern's and join the music
and fun!
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HAlOerlman
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Hal
Perlman,
Book Vendor West
Wing
Stand Number 141
Hal's Book Store |
Hal Perlman, our affable book vendor, hails from Elkins Park,
Pennsylvania, and started selling books at Zern's Farmers
Market, twenty-four years ago in 1979. During his freshman year
in college, where he was taking courses in marketing and
communications, a car accident curtailed his activities. A
friend told him about a book stand for sale at Zern's; the
former owner, Ned's was retiring after forty years. The transfer
started a new career for Perlman. "I had to dispose of most
of the books," he said, and "start with new
inventory."
Hal began with used paperbacks, inexpensive coloring books,
storybooks and magazines, and all occasion cards, two for $1.
Now he carries much the same stock, plus old National Geographic
magazines, and the full series of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys
books. There is also a selection of monopoly games, magazines
and books, a bargain at 25% off the cover price. Best buy?
Current paperbacks are 4 for $5. Hal is married to Lisa; the
couple met while she was working at another Zern's stand -
-Carr's Seafood. Their first communication, Hal remembers
sheepishly, was "Can I have a coke please?" The
Perlmans have a nine year old son and one year old Julie, who
can sometimes be spotted being wheeled into the market on top of
the book stacks. Stop by and ask to see photos!
Perlman keeps close tabs on what the industry is doing and what
holds the popularity year after years. The Goosebumps books were
hot for awhile, he commented, and we couldn't keep enough in
stock. Now that has all faded away. One guy asked him for
"used crossword puzzles!" With two uncles working in bulk magazine sales, Hal Perlman has
a ready supply of fresh stock at reasonable prices, and
maintains another bookstand at New Castle Farmers Market, in
Delaware.
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annamaeshaner'sgiftsandcollectibles
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Anna Mae Shaner's
Gifts and Collectibles
Stand 151
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Bill Shaner sells distinguished dogs and Harmony Kingdom Boxes |
Anna
Mae Shaner
A Zern's
vendor for thirty-five years, Anna Mae Shaner got started as a
Zern's vendor back in 1968, out in the open-air flea market. She
sold first and seconds shirts produced in her husband and
brother-in-law's Perkiomen Knitting Mill in East Greenville. The
shirts at 50 cents each, were a hit at Zern's. The bargain price
was because they were from dye lots that didn't set. Mrs. Shaner
was careful to tell her 50 cent buyers to be sure to "soak
in salt water and vinegar to keep them from running."
In 1970, Anna Mae switched to collectibles and antiques with the
opening of her first inside stand. She had long collected
Hummel, and antique glassware, it seemed a natural choice. Anna
Mae's son, Bill began working at Zern's at age thirteen, running
the outside stand, selling shirts and antiques. In 1988, the
Shaners expanded on certain upscale giftlines, stone resin
pieces from Mill Creek Sculpture, Marty Sculpture of elephants,
dogs, cats and whimsical baby dragons, and the beautiful
Castagna line of wildlife sculpture.
The Shaners are avid dog fanciers, and their extensive line of
dogs demonstrate this well - - - they have one of the largest
selections of dog breed figurines, even vying with the Berks
County Humane Society!
After twenty-seven years, the Shaners are still sometimes
surprised by the specialty requests from collectors. One popular
item is the array of Harmony Kingdom Collectible Boxes from
England-that have a hidden acorn or mouse or mystery item hidden
somewhere on the piece, depending upon the artist.
"We have loyal customers that have been coming to us for
twenty years," says Bill. "And we carry the largest
selection in the area of many lines, we believe that if you are
going to order a product you have to show and display the
product. One or two of the line just won't do."
One long time client keeps asking for figurines of roller
skaters - - - let him know if you know where to find this!
Another frequent request is for 'ceramic pieces of obscure dog
breeds.' There is always humor at the busy stand 151 at Zern's.
One weekend, the Shaners had a replica of Michelangelo's David
displayed on top of a glass case, and three elderly ladies
passed by. When one exclaimed, "Look at the Naked
Man!" - - the other two ladies said , "Where,
Where"?! "Like a bunch of schoolgirls," Bill
smiled. .
Partner Jeff Klopp started at Zern's market in 1969 with his
parents with Klopp's Ceramic Stand, and met the Shaners years
later, after Klopp's was sold to Jeff's sister. In 1990,
he started with Anna Mae Shaner Gifts and Collectibles Says
Bill, "Ours is a recession proof product because people
adore their pets and it is a steady ongoing love affair with
animals!, Jeff added."
Anna Mae celebrated her 72nd birthday this year. In her spare
time, this spunky widow takes care of landscaping her yard, and
swimming in her own deep pool in warm weather.
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danbreslinestatejewelrystand
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Gentleman
Jeweler with a Heart
Neill Breslin, Estate Jewelry Stand 130-B |
Neill
Breslin
White-haired Neill Breslin looks like a gentleman and is one. This
Philadelphia born estate jeweler estimates that he has been in
and out of Zern's for forty or fifty years! Many of those
years, Neill worked from a stand in the flea market, and then, the
right spot came along inside, Stand 130-B in the middle of the
West Wing.
Breslin's specialty is pre-owned jewelry, older pieces that have
survived time. To collectors, the intrinsic value could be
greater than the gold and gems, like the brooch one customer
bought that had been a Christmas day present - - eighty years
ago. "We don't have enough of it," laments Neill, "
about half of what I have is more contemporary jewelry and it
doesn't have the same feeling for people that love estate
merchandise. Most of my customers look for older pieces, things
that their grandmother's might have worn, I often hear 'oh, my
grandmother had one just like this.'"
With a smile of satisfaction, Neill says, "This is a really
nice business. I have been doing it for thirty some years, and
many of these pieces of jewelry are like little works of art! I
have some Civil War period items, and even older, hair jewelry
on display." 0ne piece is dated 1839, pre-Civil War, a
woven hair locket. These pieces are treasures and Neill can rarely
be convinced to take them out of the glass display cases.
"I have one pair of earrings and pendant that is gold with
the hair woven into it, exquisite." But some of the pieces
are just too fragile, and are kept mostly in a collection,
rather than worn. Breslin even has an original soldier's
government pension - - at the time it was $3 a month!
To find the special jewelry that he sells at Zern's Farmers
Market, Neill haunts specialty auctions, looks at listings
in the Philadelphia Inquirer, or calls the auctioneer to see
just what they have. Neill tells me that "occasionally I buy
out contents of a house and if I am lucky, I may acquire nice
pieces from that."
"Often, I feel attached to a piece - - like my Civil War
jewelry, and cannot sell it. The craftsmanship in some of the 18
kt. jewelry cannot be replicated. I have a green gold watch
piece from 1860; it runs as good as a quartz watch today. I
looked up the serial number and there was a long story on the
pocket watches, all hand-finished, all the parts. Then of
course, equipment changed and the hand finishing was not
necessary".
"My customers love that old engraving - they can feel that
they were touching onto that person and his life."
And Neill Breslin loves the customers. "At a mall you don't
meet people - - here there is a lot of conversation.
Zern's is therapy! And when our elders come to Zern's, they can
talk to people all the time!"
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greatamishoutdoorfurniture
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Ralph
Mastrangelo
ZERN'S MIDWAY VENDOR
MARKETS GREAT AMISH OUTDOOR FURNITURE |
Ralph
Mastrangelo
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If
you are lucky enough to own a piece of Amish outdoor furniture,
you can feel confident that it will last. The Lapp family,
indeed, most Amish furniture producers, come from a long line of
woodworkers, who work together, work hard and are meticulous
about what they do. The furniture is always Quality with a
capital Q, The Amish outdoor furniture carried by Zern's Midway
vendor Ralph Mastrangelo is constructed from pressure-treated
yellow southern pine. Ralph carries gliders, rockers, hanging
swings and picnic tables. Wood storage sheds made by Amos Lapp
can be special ordered.
Like many of Zern's entrepreneurial folk, Ralph got into the
outdoor furniture business after he lost his full-time job,
working for Gruber's Bleach Company in the seventies. When the
firm went out of business, a friend said to him "You just
gotta have the right product at the right price." And Ralph
was eagerly looking for a new business venture where he could be
the boss.
"I started driving up to Lancaster back in the late
seventies, and brought home some outdoor furniture to my home in
Spring City. I began selling to friends first - - about six
years ago." Meanwhile, at Zern's Farmers Market, where
Ralph had gone since childhood, he met an Amish woodworker. Amos
Lapp was selling outdoor sheds at Zern's and in a friendly
gesture, gave Ralph some space to sell outdoor furniture. Then
Amos left - - "I guess he was too busy making his sheds for
customers to commute," Mastrangelo laughed.
Ralph got into his wonderful wooden furniture with real
enthusiasm as a Zern's vendor and has since grown in knowledge
and sales. He enjoys the compliments of return customers, who
come back to get more chairs, or a swing.
"Summer months are always a good time for sales," he
says, and one of our favorites is our Amish Adirondack line of
chairs, rockers and gliders. They are almost always the
bestsellers."
Chairs start at $89, wooden swings are $100. and up, and gliders
run about $175. Philadelphia and Main Line customers drive out
just to see Ralph, because his prices are always at least 20%
lower than Philadelphia. Locals buy because they know the
quality.
Ralph also carries an attractive line of outdoor lighthouses,
and will do delivery on some furniture.
During the week, Ralph helps a friend with a cleaning service.
He is married with two daughters; his youngest just graduated
from Kutztown State College. His oldest daughter teaches sixth
grade English in Phoenixville. A golf buff, Ralph plays at the
Gilbertsville Golf Course with a handicap of about fifteen.
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Lorraine
Brinkmann
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SPICES-'N
SUCH
stand # 148
LORRAINE
BRINKMANN
SPICE LADY DELUXE |
Lorraine
Brinkmann, a former bank employee at Union National Bank, has a
very special skill. As the owner of SPICES-N-SUCH, she never
reckoned that there were so many things to learn about coffee, tea
and spices. Her weekend stand at Zern's is full of fragrant and
mysterious aromas and after more than a decade, Lorraine has
developed an unusual expertise in the world of spices.
Now, nothing stumps or deters her to satisfy customer requests and
fill her own deep well of curiosity with knowledge. Along with her
manager, Chris Hoffman, the duo at SPICES 'N SUCH STAND run an
efficient and busy stand. Lorraine declares" we go to ends of the
earth to find and fill a special order, be it spices, teas or
unusual coffee. We can almost always meet the need, even if our
customer doesn't even know how to pronounce it,"she laughs.
SPICES-'N SUCH at stand # 148, has continually expanded, and
delighted customers can find 70 kinds of coffees, 100 kinds of
boxed tea and loose tea, all purchased from the best sources and
priced by the ounce, real quality products. While she doesn't head
off for Borneo or Tanzania, Lorraine often journeys out of town to
the Home Shows, always searching for something new and different.
Among the loose teas, you can order "Gunpowder Tea;" at 1.00 an
ounce, it is a very high grade of green tea that is noted for form
and flavor. Young leaves are rolled into miniscule balls in the
Guandong Province of China, imbuing it with a sharp flavor, and
light color. Another unusual tea available at SPICES-N- SUCH, is
Lapsang Souchong. Priced at 95 cents an ounce, the tea is dark in
color and delicious when served iced; the tea leaves are smoked
over a wood fire to give the product a refreshing smoky flavor.
Lorraine's imported coffee beans and ground coffee are always very
popular. She will special order the high end and delicious
Jamaican Blue Mountain, (usually priced at over $40 a pound,
certified and pure from an estate). Kona coffee is also a favorite
among high end clients, and for the health purists, organic
Peruvian and Sumatra beans are available.
Look for expanded spices; the popularity of certain items vary by
seasons. In winter, cinnamon and nutmeg seem to be very popular.
During hunting season, customers want coriander and fennel to make
sausage when they bring in venison.
"Or," says Lorraine, "sometimes customers see something on a TV
cooking show, and there is a rush for a certain kind of spice. We
have to be up on what could be happening!"
Anything unusual? "Well, Lorraine laughed, there was recently a
huge run on fennel after a UPI news story declaring fennel as a
preventative for flatulence."
Pick up your free catalogues from Lorraine next time you are at
Zern's, and place your order with Lorraine at 610-367-5753
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Classy
Glass At Classic Glass
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THE
CLASSY GLASS AT CLASSIC GLASS
STAND #246 A
KELLY TONELIS
Manager/owner |
Looking
for a really thoughtful Easter gift or Mother's Day
present? What about a delicate glass basket? The
first Fenton Art Glass baskets were produced and sold in
1905, and still going strong. Vintage Fenton baskets can
be bought from around $50-$150 depending on color. Newer
Fenton baskets are a bit more affordable. They range from
$35-$50, depending on size, and artist signature.
The mention of Fenton Glass draws all kinds of excited
reactions from glass collectors. One of the last
manufacturers of glass in America, the Fenton family goes
back five generations and will celebrate its 100th year
anniversary in 2005. Fenton produces thousands of pieces
per annum with product lines varying from bowls to vases
to figurines, including a lovely new red stretch glass
Labrador, which has earned instant popularity.
One of the most avid Fenton collectors - - a Fenton
dealer, is Zern's Farmers Market's own Kelly Tonelis, who
will search for antique baskets or sell you a new one,
available with special signature by Nancy Fenton on April
24, 2004 at Zern's Farmers Market in Gilbertsville, Pa.
As frequent weekend visitors to Zern's Farmers Market in
the eighties and nineties, Kelly and her husband Steve,
decided that Zern's would be a great place to expand from
collecting Fenton glass to selling it. They opened their
Classic Glass Stand in 1996, and were quickly swamped with
customers. Now Kelly and Steve are one of the top forty
Gold Showcase Dealers - - Fenton's highest tier of dealers
in the world!
Bubbling with her usual exuberance, Kelly explains why
Fenton is so popular: "This is a good
old-fashioned family company that exemplifies the lost art
of glass-making. The old secret methods barely exist in
the United States today."
" No one thought a Fenton shop would work in a
farmer's market, but Zern's has an energy," Kelly smiled.
"People come here from all over, even on the five and a half
hour drive from Virginia, to purchase a signed piece."
Fenton styles are as varied as the rainbow, the
connoisseur line is the 'crème de la crème' of their
product. There is carnival glass in multiple colors,
" Kelly explained. "If you hold up your carnival
glass to the light - the name of the color would be that
which you see on the bottom."'The Marie' says Kelly,
" is a beautiful violet amethyst. You can find lovely
hanging hearts, taken from an early pattern in iridescent
glass and an unusual Burmese glass that uses gold and is
named after a Burmese sunset. Other colors include opaque
green or yellow, a peachy cast about the top or bottom,
and the lovely faverne, (or fabrine), an iridescent glass
coped from a Tiffany design.
Kelly's personal favorite is an obscure, sold glass blank
sold to decorating companies to add their own logos.
Visit Kelly at Classic Glass on Fridays and Saturdays at
Zern's Farmers Market, or for Fenton searches or special
orders, you can reach her at 610 367 7596.
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