In the market for an alcohol flask disguised as binoculars? A bat water globe? A 400-pound all-terrain vehicle? A collection of 600 DVDs? A 5-foot-tall mirror with wood border?
If you were, your quest could have been satisfied on Sept. 7, when Secaucus held its townwide garage sale.
Shoppers’ paradise
More than 80 households participated in the semiannual event, a shopper’s paradise. With a handy list of the residences, aficionados were able to leapfrog all over town, checking out everything from a 4-foot-high hanging plant holder made from seashells to faux leopard-skin blouses, to rubber Rosary beads.
Bargain shoes
On Seventh Street, Michele Cruize showcased a rack of shoes, including barely worn designer offerings.
Shoes that originally cost her between $50 and $120 were on the block for half a sawbuck.
“Anyone that knows about brands, knows that a $5 Kenneth Cole is a good deal,” she said.
Over on Acorn Road, Anna Leppin’s eldest son, Anthony, was parting with some of his most prized toys, a stuffed Iron Man and a Green Lantern base set.
“It’s more like a social event than a garage sale.” – Kerry Eglentowicz
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Leppin said Anthony was the master of his own possessions, deciding which ones to part with by himself.
“He was cute; he picked up things and asked my 2-year-old son if he wanted them,” she said.
Grade-school entrepreneurs
Young children seemed to be among the entrepreneurs during this municipal-wide wheeling and dealing session. On Koelle Boulevard, Christina Fu’s kids, Ian, 7, and Alexa, 5, had set up a lemonade stand by early afternoon, just as the sun was right overhead and beating down on thirsty bargain hunters. And at the reasonable price of two bits, who could say no?
More than that, each 25-cent cup they sold was helping them build to a very rewarding crescendo. Whatever they made from the stand, and the toys they were selling, would go right back to them, for spending money on their fall trip to Disney World.
Tigger and Pooh
Down the street from the Fus, the Snuffer Family – Michael and wife Janice, and kids Janice and Sterling – was busy selling off inflatable figures of the Easter Bunny Tigger, Snowman Tigger, and a Pumpkin Patch. Only one of five remained, Winnie the Pooh himself, and they were confident that he would go too.
On Blondel Drive, Kerry Eglentowicz said the twice-a-year affair was something she looked forward to, because it empties her house of possessions no longer needs, makes her a little money, but just as importantly, serves an altruistic purpose, drawing her closer to neighbors and new friends she makes on the day.
“It’s more like a social event than a garage sale,” she said.
Fish tanks and breadboards
Gail and John Kennelly of Garry Terrace said their sale had been “sporadic,” with people “coming and going,” but they were extremely happy with one sale they had made, that of a 5-foot-tall, hexagonal fish tank.
“We sold everything with it, the pump and all the accessories,” John said. If you add that to an earlier sale they made of a guitar-shaped breadboard, it was quite a day.
ATVs and rafts
Keith Wortman of Poplar Street was very pleased with the day’s results. By early morning, his 12–by-20-foot driveway was standing room only with bargain hunters.
“I was happy and surprised at how early they started coming,” he said. “The driveway was jammed. There was no space in here.”
While he couldn’t sell his fire-engine red, all-terrain vehicle, he was ecstatic he was able to find a woman to take a 12-foot, camouflage green inflatable raft off his hands.
“She is going to use it in the duck pond to go fishing,” he said, “I know that because she bought a fishing pole from me to go with it.”
All in all, it was a good day for many.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.