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Highlands Today

Broken Spoke Isn't Moving After All

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

From left: Donald and Mary Loy of Avon Park claim their items that they won at an auction recently at Broke Spoke Flea Market. The couple bought about $500 worth of items, which constituted to five pickups and a trailer load of stuff.

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By Douglas  Carman | Highlands Today

Published: September 12, 2007

AVON PARK — They had half the inventory liquidated. They were talking about a Sept. 29 move-out date. The workers at Broken Spoke Flea Market even worried that the close-knit group of small stores would split up, as some would move down to smaller parcels near the railroad while others found new lots on U.S. 27.

Then Lorine Platt, a "part-manager" at the store, realized they didn't need to go anywhere.

In what Platt said resulted from a miscommunication with the landlord, she, the rest of the store and some of the other businesses in their building thought they had to leave the building by the end of September. But the landlord told them Tuesday afternoon that they didn't have to leave.

"It's been crazy here, let me tell you," Platt said, laughing. Her husband, Sam, also owns Sam's Woodworking and Collectibles inside the same building.

Judy Rehms, the outgoing owner of the Broken Spoke, planned to retire after the store moved. They already set up a lease at 309 W. Main St., but after realizing they didn't need to move, Platt said they'll stay put. Rehms plans to retire anyway.

"It's my time," Rehms said while moving, before the landlord reached her. "I decided 'hey, we moved into a retirement community,' and we're just going to enjoy life."

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