VINTAGE, INDUSTRIAL, VENDORS. OH, MY!
Nestled under the metal dome of the West Cal Arena in the Louisiana heat is an eclectic array of knick-knacks, custom-crafted jewelry, clothes, teacups turned into bird feeders, and even custom wall art with hidden secret compartments.
For the past two years, 100 or more vendors have been coming from not just Louisiana but from all over Texas as well to sell their unique items at the Vintage Market Days of Southwest Louisiana in Sulphur at the West Cal Arena and Events Center.
Leslie and Gina Allen have been vendors since 1998 and came up with an idea for a place with a unique shopping experience and thus brought Vintage Market Days to Louisiana, according to VintageMarketDays.com.
While it might seem like a stand-alone event, Vintage Market Days (VMD) is actually a franchised event that started in 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the first VMD was held in 2012, as stated on VintageMarketDays.com. By 2014, VMD had become a franchise event and grew to eight unique event locations in five different states.
While it has a flea market vibe to it, it is much more than your average flea market. The vendors are nice, and each is attempting to grow their small business by attending festivals all over the country. While photography isn’t allowed in the West Cal Arena and Events Center, each vendor has a Facebook page where they have uploaded pictures of their products for sale.
Mimi’s House is owned by Kristine LaRue, who came all the way from Alvin, Texas, to set up her booth at Vintage Market Days of Southwest Louisiana. Mimi’s House’s booth contained crafts, vintage and antique furniture, repurposed items, and boutique items, including jewelry, hats, clothes, and more.
Light’em Up Customs Designs is a veteran family owned and operated and based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. They create custom industrial-inspired lighting. Each lighting piece is unique, and no two are the same. One piece that seemed to catch everyone’s eye is titled the “Tesla,” named after Nikola Tesla.
Native Hills Designs is owned by Kate and Benny Dodge, who create custom-designed jewelry by casting their pieces in bronze, copper, and sterling silver and using genuine turquoise and quality gemstones for their pieces. Their jewelry pieces are not only gorgeous but are also handmade. They attend markets and festivals all around the country, not just VMD.
If you’re looking for unique items for Christmas, baby showers, weddings, birthdays, etc., then you’ll find the Vintage Market Days of Southwest Louisiana the perfect place to shop with your family and friends.
