by Heidi L. Everett
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Treasure hunters will be out in full force as the annual St. Joseph citywide garage sale opens doors May 13 through 15.
“People get excited for it because they like to declutter, especially with kids stuff as kids outgrow things. People love kids clothes,” said Angela Vogt, who has been an organizer of the sale for five years. “Nobody wants to pay full price. People like to be thrifty.”
Those who want to open their garage doors and be a part of the sale can register by May 9 to be on the interactive google map of all the sales in the area. This map shows sale goers the locations, hours of sales and types of items for sale.
“If they just want to be on the map, that’s fine. If they want to list items, that’s fine too,” Vogt said. “People use the map to determine how they are going to plan out which sales they go to and in what order.”
Registration to be on the map is free and can be done on Facebook at @SJcitywidesales.
As of April 25, two dozen sales had been registered, but typically 45 to 50 garage sales are registered by the start of the sale, Vogt said.
The Church of St. Joseph is participating in the sale this year as well as selling JoeBurgers outside the church on days of the sale. In addition to the garage sale and burgers, people can find displays of the quilts that will be up for auction.
Vogt said the citywide sale is the best time of year to do a garage sale rather than any other time in the summer.
“Nobody has as much success as on these dates. People come from all over the place just to shop,” she said.
But Vogt also recognizes shoppers will have to make some new choices this year.
“It coincides with the fishing opener, so some people might have to make some decisions,” she said. “Thursday is the best day to shop, but the event runs Friday and Saturday.”
