This & That Flea Market, shuttered since winds blew off much of the store’s roof on Dec. 18, is relocating.
Store manager John Cox Sr. announced this week he is moving the store from its current locale at 214 S. Washington Ave. to the old Rental Station building at 1502 N. State St.
“It’s going to take too long for the owners to get the roof fixed,” Cox said of his decision.
A week or so after fierce winds peeled back a large portion of the old building’s metal roof, Cox and several helpers laid tarps, plastic and other coverings over the roof’s gaping holes, uncertain whether it would be enough to withstand any substantial precipitation.
The weekend of Jan. 24-25 they found out.
That’s when the area received 6 inches of snow followed by several days of brutally cold temperatures.
As the snow melted, streams of water began making their way to the building’s second story, mocking Cox’s efforts to catch the runoff with the dozens of buckets, pails and other receptacles placed about.
Once it became apparent the building’s owner, Emily Coldeiro, would be unable to get the roof repaired anytime soon, Cox began seeking a new location.
Coldeiro, daughter of Kincaid’s Arlyn Briggs, had paid off back taxes for the building when she acquired it, but did not have insurance for the structure, complicating the repair schedule.
The building is slated to be sold again, Cox said.
“We’re trying to get everything out as soon as possible,” Cox said Monday, as he and his team of employees and other helpers were packing boxes and shelving.
By Monday, all but three of the 25 vendors who sell merchandise at This & That had moved their products to the North State Street location, which is owned by Cleaver Development LLC.
Cox figured to have the rest out by the end of Tuesday.
“After that, all that will be left in here is our stuff,” he said.
And there’s lots of it.
The upstairs storage areas are crammed with merchandise, in addition to the shelves still filled with products for sale in the storeroom. A room in the back remains filled with furniture as well.
