TREASURE HUNTING

If you love the thrill and adventure of rifling through the cluttered shelves of a quaint vintage shop in search of a rare find or collectible, clear your calendar on the third Saturday of each month for a trip to the Rust Market in Lake Park—about 30 miles north of us.

“West Palm and Palm Beach Gardens have their green markets, but they don’t have that ‘pick through’ feel that makes vintage markets so fun,” says Kelsey Vintage Goods’ owner Jesse Furman, who, along with his wife, Jennifer, run their vintage shop on Park Avenue in the Lake Park Arts District and began staging the monthly outdoor market in the adjacent lot.

That was five years ago.

Today, from September through April, the Rust Market is a monthly destination for thousands of like-minded collectors who share the Furmans’ passion for vintage goods, antiques, handcrafted wares and other treasures. “We’re more than a garage sale but not quite an antique show—just a really fun market for people to find some really great treasures,” says Furman.

Showcased in a fun, family-friendly setting, the market is a veritable pop-up mall packed with dozens of vendor booths, each with their unique treasures displayed, and with prices usually negotiable. The Rust Market is where you go if you’re seeking a vintage camera, a discontinued board game, or that original Led Zeppelin album to complete your collection. It’s a place where quirky advertising signs share space with exotic plants, mint-in-box toys, and books ranging from first editions to dog-eared paperbacks. A wide variety of food and beverage vendors are also on hand, along with live music. Additionally, Furman hosts two other themed markets four times a year in the spacious side alley of the 700 block of Park Avenue: a classic car show and a non-vintage vendor market with more traditional flea market items.

“My goal is to, one day, have markets like those in Mount Dora, which is where we found inspiration for what we’re doing now,” says the Lake Park native, who is committed to the town’s revival. “This is such a beautiful, quaint town—one of the few in Palm Beach County that actually has a traditional downtown. It’s just an awesome hidden gem.”

RUST MARKET/KELSEY VINTAGE GOODS

748-B Park Ave., Lake Park, FL 33403

561/ 543-6304 kelseyvintage.com