Aug. 31--Tammy Kostelnik sat on the old van seat in front of her building at White Oaks Flea Market watching customers sort through items.

"There is more inside," she said.

Like some of the other buildings in the open-air market, the building has faded and the exterior paint has chipped. But its location helped Kostelnik through a rough patch.

Kostelnik started selling blankets, furniture, books and toys at the Old Mountain Road market because of the economy.

"I was doing so well here," she said. "I started coming out every week."

She had several people come by her building on Saturday, which made her and the other vendors happy.

Vendors are pleased to see customers come back after a misunderstanding led many to believe the flea market on the corner of Old Mountain Road and U.S. 70 had shut down.

It did close temporarily because of a property dispute, but it reopened just a few weeks later, said vendor Carl Moose.

But many things have changed since owners Troy and Evelyn Scruggs took over earlier this year.

The couple took out some of the $5 rented tables to create more parking.

Statesville resident Peggy Smith said they were passing through and saw the fresh produce Troy Scruggs was selling.

She decided to walk around a bit and look at the different booths for things she needed to fix up a rental home.

"You can usually get good deals, and they will come down on the price," Smith said.

They also don't charge sales tax, a vendor pointed out.

Among the offerings Saturday were a metal Michael Jordan trading card, a broach and a knife.

Scruggs said people come out to the flea market for the atmosphere. Some are looking for unusual items, while others are trying to meet their basic needs.

Vendors try to accommodate everyone.

The market isn't just about making money, the vendors said. Some of the vendors have sold knickknacks and doodads at the market for more than 30 years. They like giving each other advice, such as fried apple pies sell better than chocolate pies.

The vendors enjoy learning new things, joking around and "lying to each other," said long-time vendor Carl Moose.

"I can't make no money," said Paul Carrigan, who sells toys, bicycles and license plates. "I just come to get away from home."

Scruggs joined the crowd in 1991, selling produce at the market off and on. He said his wife tries to sell all sorts of stuff.

Not every one sells during the wintertime, but Moose likes to come up to White Oak anyway for the fellowship.

"I only brought a handful of stuff today," he said, looking around his booth. "I thought I might be rained out. We have a lot of the same people who come here every week."

Cliff Saunders started selling at White Oaks a few months ago. He said it's not a bad hobby, but he agreed with Carrigan about the low income.

Saunders sells jewelry, tools and knives at his booth. He said it's important to have a variety because one never knows what buyers want.

"You could have a 1,000 things and people will want something different," he said.

Saunders spends his share of time at other flea markets as well. He said they usually have bigger crowds.

Danny Moose said he drove out to the market because he was bored to death. It also gave him a chance to see his uncle Carl, who has operated a booth at the flea market for more than 30 years.

He said he usually buys things that make the work he does around the house easier.

"A lot of times, I don't buy anything," Danny Moose said. "I look at things people have. The stuff you find out here -- this is the only place you get to see things like that."

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