Power House

My mom raised me hunting through the Brandywine and Lancaster/Stroudsburg/Gap/Paradise area antique stores, so maybe I am spoiled by the spectacular finds there? Power House, however, was a sad waste of time.

We had driven past this place on another trip to Collegeville and I wanted to check it out. Internet research provided very little. They have no website, and there is a small blurb on phillyfunguide to explain they are only open Sundays (and not even all Sundays). Since we live 40 minutes away, I called to make sure they would be open one Sunday and was told to "hurry up" because they were closing soon. It was 1pm when I called and the hours were supposedly until 5pm. The woman explained that "most merchants leave at 4pm" ??? Really? You're open one day a week and you can't manage to hang out until you close? That was a poor first impression.

When we arrived it was barely 3:30pm and there were already blankets covering 50% of the tables in the place. Lights were out in some areas, and there was a general feeling of "GET OUT." One woman grouchily told us "Oh you're late. We're closing..." which I think she meant as a tactic to make us beg her to let us buy something, because when we ignored her section and walked past (as per her comment), she suddenly started to uncover things and said, "Oh but--" when she realized she had discouraged any interest. Sorry lady, rude begets no business.

I saw a lot of stuff you can buy on ebay + pay shipping and still get for about 70% off their asking prices. Even if you negotiated a better deal, I am sure the Power House merchants would not give you 70% off.

I also saw a lot of thrift-store-grade "vintage" stuff (10-to-60-years-old) which is cool but it's not really antique, and again, it was marked up ridiculously. Also, most of the stuff was cheesy novelty collectibles, and very little by way of useful housewares and furnishings. LOTS of reproduction items, that were not even real vintage, just brand new, from China. It was more of a Baby Boomer's nostalgia shop than a real antique store as I know antique stores to be. Lots of Elvis memorabilia, mock-Tiffany lamps, toys from the 50's, metal lunchboxes with Howdy-Doody, Coca-cola paraphernalia, etc. does not an "antique store" make. Stuff that is useless unless you are a specific collector makes it a collectibles shop. I saw very little from the 19thC. and I am used to antiques stores carrying 99% from the 19thC. or older. I also saw very little furniture and again, I know antique stores to be mostly furniture-driven businesses.

I think calling this place an "antique" store is a misnomer. It is really a vintage nostalgia and collectibles shop, and overpriced at that.

An antique/flea market place located in an old mill. Or something along the lines of a mill. Open only sundays i believe. Look it up. Got lots of different things over the years. Always good deals. There's a vintage clothing vendor with a nice selection of 40s and 50s men and women's fashions. Furniture here and there. Last time I got 2 taxidermied fish for 20 bux total, a deer hoof thermometer, and a few other good deals. Check it out. Worth the drive if you're coming from the city. Make sure it's open. I think their hours are 9 to 5. Sundays.