Starts local business to organize monthly flea markets in Abilene

May 5—Michael Ebersol spends time with his daughters by going to flea markets and auctions. They started participating when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Together, they seek out nicks and nicks to resell and promote their collection. Eventually, they parted ways with their respective stands. Now, Ebersol is running his monthly flea market business, the Longhorn Trail Flea Market and Auction Company.

“It makes the most sense to put it in Abilene because it’s in the center of (the county). The towns to the north, Clay Center, Junction City, Salina, none of them have anything like that,” Ebersol said. “The whole city will benefit from us being here.”

Ebersol, who lives north of Abilene, said she remembers a decade ago when flea markets were more prevalent. From his point of view, people in general became more engaged in life and moved on from collecting. When the pandemic came, people had more time and started collecting or starting again.

“I’ve had hundreds of people just message me and say ‘oh we’re going for it, glad to do something like that,'” Ebersol said.

Ebersol’s flea markets will host a combination of vendors. Some will be selling collectibles. Will sell some antiques. Others will sell homemade crafts. Overall, he wants a mix of vendors in each market.

Currently, there is no admission fee for attendees, Ebersol said, although they may need to implement one in future markets.

The company’s first flea market was on April 16 at Concordia. Most vendors in that market will also participate in the Abilene market. While the Concordia market had 15 vendors, the Abilene market would have about 34. Ebersol said he was expecting a gradual increase in vendors after filling his first Abilene Market vendors space for the first show. For them though, it shows “how much of it is needed.”

Ebersol said the business will also conduct online auctions in the future.

For Ebersol, this is not a full-time career for him. The amount of revenue he receives will be enough to pay for advertising and the next market. But it doesn’t matter to him. History of buying and selling and bringing people to Abilene who love to do the same thing is the reason why he is organizing these markets.

The first Abilene Longhorn Trail Flea Market is on May 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sterling Hall. To purchase booths for future markets, Ebersol asked to be contacted via the Longhorn Trail Flea Market & Auction Company Facebook page.