BRIMFIELD, Mass. - America's oldest outdoor antique flea market opens this week, which means business is booming for Brimfield's Apple Barn Cafe.
What You Need To Know
- The Brimfield Flea Market opens this week and it is known as America's oldest outdoor antique flea market
- Apple Barn Cafe is a family-owned Brimfield deli and baked goods business that has been around for decades
- The restaurant also serves breakfast and does change up its breakfast and lunch menu during the antique show
- The restaurant, which is normally closed on most weekdays, opens all week for the show. The restaurant, which is normally closed on most weekdays, opens all week for the show.
Restaurant manager Cordelia Collins says the holiday weekend is also adding to the event.
"We have our specials on Sunday and so Sundays get really packed because once a week we have these really good specials," Collins said. "And especially with it being Mother's Day, and it being the start of the show, it's really packed in here today."
The family-owned business has been serving Western Massachusetts with its deli and baked goods for decades.
Collins says being part of the annual Brimfield Flea Market is a restaurant tradition.
"During the antique show it's a bit of a different menu because we have table service," she said. "We have sandwiches, a lot of deli sandwiches, baked goods, and then we do breakfast as well. Our lunch menu is a bit different too. It's counter service, more on the go."
Collins says preparing for the flea market comes with a lot of long nights and early mornings.
The restaurant, which is normally closed on most weekdays, opens all week for the show.
She says she's been part of the flea market's community experience since she was a child and it's something she still enjoys.
"I can honestly say that Brimfield's my life. The antique shows my life," she said. "These people I have known for 30 years and people know me since I've been in Bassinet so when Brimfield comes, the antique show comes, it's exciting because you get to see these people that you haven't seen in a while and it's a good time."
The Brimfield Flea Market begins Tuesday.