Two-day Model City Marketplace draws local, out-of-town buyers and sellers

KINGSPORT — A Surgoinsville woman sold a painted, divided-glass antique window Saturday to a woman from Harrogate, Tennessee.It all happened at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium, proving that the NASCAR races at Bristol Motor Speedway aren't the only event to draw folks here from outside the Tri-Cities.The two women were among more than 90 vendors and some 2,500 customers who attended the Model City Marketplace Fall & Holiday Show from across the region on Friday and Saturday.Under a shade tree and tent between the Civic Auditorium and Fort Henry Drive, Melanie Lee of Surgoinsville sold handmade signs and painted windows at her Lee Mercantile booth, including an old window with a mid-20th century red Ford pickup truck painted on it.Lee also has a permanent booth at the Homestead Shoppe in Church Hill."We come here every year because of stuff like this," Cathy Owens of Harrogate, Tennessee, near Cumberland Gap, said as she left with a vintage windowpane painted by Lee."You can't find this stuff anywhere else," Owens said. "This reminds me of my daddy. He had a red Ford truck."RETURNING TO THE CIVICOrganizers Allyson Kilgore and Robin Griswold of Kingsport held the seventh in a series of the event, also known as the Model City Antique & Flea, which has now returned to Kingsport's art deco auditorium next to Dobyns-Bennett High School."This allows for a great outdoor venue," Griswold said of the Civic. Plans are to have at least one or possibly two shows in 2024, although none have been set.The event dates back to 2020, with a break for COVID-19, and has normally been held at the auditorium, except for a move to the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center the past two times. Dobyns-Bennett has been using the Civic Auditorium for physical education classes while the school's basketball dome is being renovated.However, school was out Friday for students, so that allowed time for the event to return to the auditorium.Ninety-six vendors were inside and outside the Civic Auditorium, selling everything from food, arts and crafts, antiques and collectibles to cast-iron skillets, clothing and musical instruments.OUTSIDE VENDORSAmong other outside vendors, Debbie Hoy, owner of Fox Vintiques, splits her time between Plant City, Florida, and Southwest Virginia at Big Stone Gap since she retired from a school system job in Florida.Hoy said she's trying to get a permanent shop space but will still sell at events like the Model City market in this area and Florida.Also outside, Ian and Kesha Overton operated R&O Ranch, a Johnson City business that sells infused olive oils. She said the most popular is infused with rosemary and garlic. Also outside, Ashley Rose operated Antiques and Aesthetics, which had an eclectic mix of items including toys, an old doll and 1950s paper goods.INSIDE THE CIVICInside the auditorium, Barry Moore of Barry's Custom Lamps in Gray stood ready to sell some of his creations, including steampunk-style lamps and cellphone chargers.Also on the main floor of the center, KaSoundra Fuller of Surgoinsville was there from Country Goodness, which sells barn wood art, canvas art, candied nuts, cakes and cupcakes, with her father, Larry Brewer.On the Civic Auditorium stage, Jessica Haskins brought her 22 Cute Designs business with a friend, De nova Furnishings owner Renee Devereux. The two, from Knoxville, travel to shows together and were at the more recent MeadowView sale. They had a mix of decorative signs and artwork.SOME SELLERS THERE FROM THE STARTAlso among the inside vendors, Liz Stothart of Liz's Attic in Kingsport has set up at every Model City Antique & Flea since the first one was held in 2020. Stothart also has a booth at Hudson's General Store and Antiques in downtown Kingsport.Robin Waters of Tennessee Homemade, a Kingsport business that sells homemade goat milk soap, room sprays, candles and vanilla extract called Madagascar, said the event has always done well. She has attended seven times since 2020.Another vendor who has been at all the Antique & Flea events since 2020 was John Taylor of Monroe, Georgia.Taylor's business, Janice and John's Attic, sells vintage cast iron and helps customers season and maintain cast-iron skillets and other items. The business goes to events across the Southeast, including in Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.