Business & Tech

The Flea Circus Coming to Town

New Collinsville business to open Friday.

While some collect old items for their beauty, sentiment or value, the owners of a new business in Collinsville see affordability, practicality and reuse as some of the biggest reasons to seek out yesteryear’s treasures.

This Friday, siblings April Arrasate Duke, Chuck Arrasate and Samantha Arrasate Boland plan to open The Flea Circus at 101 Main St. in Collinsville. 

“We’ve had a [long-time] interest in this kind of thing,” Duke said.

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The three have collected many items in their travels and much of their interest can be traced to their late mother, Rachel Veleas, who died in 2011.

 “It’s basically a mix of all our findings and our mom’s, who had a great eye for antiques,” Duke said.

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The store will allow the three to honor Veleas, spend some time together and pass on some of their collections to people who will appreciate them.

While the store will have some larger or more valuable items, the owners especially love to find and offer things that can be used in everday life.

Boland said the family also wants to make a statement against the needless manufacture of so many new items when there are numerous quality items available for re-use.

The siblings also want to maintain some of the artistic use of the space, formerly home to Gallery 101 Main.

To do that, the three plan to hang up the works of area artists in the space’s vault and stay open late once a week for an artist’s reception.

For the short-term, the three are looking at the venture as a summer business. Whether they continue will depend on how the store does.

But the three siblings, who grew up in Farmington, are eagerly anticipating the venture.

“We are looking forward to spending some time together,” Boland said.

They also love the space and its location. Chuck Arrasate has lived in Collinsville since 1997 and they all love the village.

“We love this town,” Duke said. “We’re always hanging out here.”

The Flea Circus will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday though Sunday, with art events taking place during extended hours on Friday nights. Reach them at 860-693-6375.


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