Grab the kids, jump in the jalopy and shop til you drop at the 2nd annual Highway 70 Yard Sale in Tennessee to be held June 9, 10, and 11!
Last year an enterprising couple from jackson, TN, were brainstorming ideas for publicizing their new antique store, This-That & More, when they decided to have a yard sale. Steve and Barbara Pomery took the idea to neighboring business Butler’s Antique Mall, and the decision was made to have a really long sale. The Highway 70 Yard Sale was born.
“Highway 70 was once called the Broadway of America, going from coast to coast,” says Barbara Pomeroy. “Now it runs parallel to Interstate 40; it seemed like the perfect place!”
After printing flyers, sending emails to newspapers and TV stations, the Highway 70 yard sale expanded shortly from Jackson to Memphis and to Huntington and beyond. Over 500 individuals and dealers called from all over the state to set up booths and tables between Memphis and Bellevue.
According to Pomeroy, several churches along the way are already planning to participate this year with church-wide yeard sales in conjunction with the Highway 70 Yard Sale.
“On a visit to Jackson, I met the Pomeroys who saw me reading a sign about the yard sale,” says Christian Activities publisher, Kathryn Darden. “Before I knew what had hit me, I got excited about the idea and ChristianActivities had become a sponsor!” Darden has been putting out flyers around town and telling local businesses about the possibilities.
“My brother and I have been to the 127 Yard Sale in East Tennessee on several occasions,” Darden continues. “People set up tables in their yards, flea markets spring up in vacant lots, and hungry people fill local restaurants as they travel the highway looking for bargains. They stay in local hotels, buy band aids and sunglasses from local drug stores, and business booms in the towns and communities along the way. Local stores can set up sidewalk sales, local residents can have individual yard sales, subdivisions can host a community yard sale, antique dealers can find a place to set up a booth – the opportunities are endless.”
The rules are very simple, according to founder Barbara Pomeroy. “Find a spot on Highway 70, get permission from the right person, sell and make money! Or bring your truck and running shoes and start shopping for those bargains and HAVE FUN!” Darden adds there are rules about where to post signs, etc. and encourages everyone to post signs appropriately, and make sure to get permission if you set up a table in any location other than your own yard.
“We want to get the word out early. Last year Nashville didn’t get much out of the yard sale and I would like to see that change,” states Darden. “I think this could really benefit local businesses, especially in outlying areas as the yard sale grows in coming years.”
If you have any questions, call the Pomeroys at 731-422-6265 or email highway70yardsale@charter.net.
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