Flea markets in Colorado???

[WisJim]

We're going to be visiting our son and grandson in Colorado this spring (he's in Pueblo), and I'm looking for suggestions for flea markets to check out in the area. Pueblo would be easiest, but we will probably make it to Colorado Springs at least once, and we fly in and out of Denver. Any suggestions for places for a cheap skate to look for tools of almost any kind?

 

[JackDiddly]

Mile high flea market is open friday through sunday. But if you get the chance stop in to Charlies 2nd Hand store in Denver.

 

[steaks&anvils]

Yeah, not many used tool places in the denver area. I have no clue what might be available in Pueblo or Colorado springs.

There is only one Flea market:

https://milehighfleamarket.com/en/

Here is the website for Charlie's 2nd Hand Store. They have been in business since 1928! Current third generation owner Steve is a great guy, just tell him what you are looking for and he'll help you find something! The differing name on the web address can be confusing:

https://www.usedtoolsplus.com/

This used tool store is fun too, been around for 70yrs. They have more hardware than "tools", but I always find something to buy there. Over the years, I've seen a barrel of tommy bars and buckets of bonney wrenches, all the same size and all rusted to hell (from the flood back in the 1960s, ask them about it, crazy story):

https://www.surplustoolsdenver.com/

FYI, don't wear nice clothes to the tool stores. LOL and bring something to clean your hands. I always get grubby hands when I go!

 

[RTM]

Yup, steak and anvils hit the only three I know in Denver, and I hit all three on my last visit. Bring lots of time, grubby clothes, and hand sanitizer to get the first layer of crud off. Rubber garden gloves would be good, and something to carry your treasure, esp in the surplus store. I got lots of sockets, crow feet wrenches, and some hammer handles. Pix somewhere here. A Few good tool vendors at the flea, but they know what they have, so few steels. We were there in December, so the casual sellers weren’t as numerous.

 

[seber]

Mile High advertises they are the biggest West of the Mississippi. In warm season, you can spend a day going through it. If you speak Spanish, you can dicker with the professional tool sellers and maybe come away with some deals. But there are a lot of casual sellers who are easier to work with and cheaper. Don't waste your time in the front section with buildings. Those are just cheap Chinese resellers.

 

[Higgins]

I've spent yrs traveling CO. and hitting all the antique stores. It has been amazing the ole tools that they have. Some of the prices have been high, I just tell them what i'm will to pay, then start walking to the door!

Have found some really good finds, as the store really didn't know what they had!

AL

 

[steaks&anvils]

Mile High advertises they are the biggest West of the Mississippi. In warm season, you can spend a day going through it. If you speak Spanish, you can dicker with the professional tool sellers and maybe come away with some deals. But there are a lot of casual sellers who are easier to work with and cheaper. Don't waste your time in the front section with buildings. Those are just cheap Chinese resellers.

Not entirely correct, there is at least one old tool seller with a permanent location and the open spot across the aisle from it.

edit: I added an map shot. I think it is the location on "D" street, but could also be the one on "F" street. It's been awhile since I was there, you'll just have to check them both.

When I go, I just make a really quick tour of the shops that are in the buildings area. Then I take my time going through the outdoor area. Since so many spots are daily rental, mostly garage sale types , they can be a lot of fun to go through.

But, as with all flea markets, every trip is different, that's the fun of it.

Also, remember your sunscreen, it's easy to get a bad burn year round here in colorado. Cloudy days can get you the worse sunburn

 

[tarbellb]

Yeah, not many used tool places in the denver area. I have no clue what might be available in Pueblo or Colorado springs.

There is only one Flea market:

https://milehighfleamarket.com/en/

Here is the website for Charlie's 2nd Hand Store. They have been in business since 1928! Current third generation owner Steve is a great guy, just tell him what you are looking for and he'll help you find something! The differing name on the web address can be confusing:

https://www.usedtoolsplus.com/

This used tool store is fun too, been around for 70yrs. They have more hardware than "tools", but I always find something to buy there. Over the years, I've seen a barrel of tommy bars and buckets of bonney wrenches, all the same size and all rusted to hell (from the flood back in the 1960s, ask them about it, crazy story):

https://www.surplustoolsdenver.com/

FYI, don't wear nice clothes to the tool stores. LOL and bring something to clean your hands. I always get grubby hands when I go!

^^^ This

Charlies is great, def worth a visit.

Surplus is hilarious, those dudes must have bought a entire military warehouse(s) in the 70/80s and have been piecing it out ever since.

They have a yearly sale where they open up their aux warehouse. Its wild. Places where you can fall through the mezzanine flooring, cans of chemicals that the EPA would loss their **** over, wasp nest, you name it. But, fun, I added a respirator to my PPE to my last few picks.

 

[WisJim]

So far we got to Pueblo and went to the local flea market a few blocks from my son's house. Maybe 3 or 4 dozen vendors on a warm sunny day. Lots of miscellaneous Craftsman tools and cheaper stuff, not much that I needed, but I did pick up a Keen Kutter 14" ratcheting brace that looks like a Fray patent chuck and a more common ratchet. I think that I may already have one similar but a different size, but for $2. I wasn't going to pass it up. I'm hoping we make it to Denver for the Mile High Flea Market, but not sure. I hope to at least get to some of the Pueblo antique stores. And then of course there are all the great small breweries and brew pubs whose goods I would like to sample.

 

[steaks&anvils]

^^^ This

Charlies is great, def worth a visit.

Surplus is hilarious, those dudes must have bought a entire military warehouse(s) in the 70/80s and have been piecing it out ever since.

They have a yearly sale where they open up their aux warehouse. Its wild. Places where you can fall through the mezzanine flooring, cans of chemicals that the EPA would loss their **** over, wasp nest, you name it. But, fun, I added a respirator to my PPE to my last few picks.

Their military surplus goes back to WWII. I have found British "broad arrow" marked tools there.

I have never been to the other "auxiliary" storage buildings, I did hear that they were a fun time though! I think they have cleared out a few of those and sold them, something about taxes getting to be too high.

FYI, when the platte river flooded in 1965, the water was so high that it flooded that main store building. Blew out the back wall. Think about that, where does the river run today? CRAZY huh?

 

[steaks&anvils]

So far we got to Pueblo and went to the local flea market a few blocks from my son's house. Maybe 3 or 4 dozen vendors on a warm sunny day. Lots of miscellaneous Craftsman tools and cheaper stuff, not much that I needed, but I did pick up a Keen Kutter 14" ratcheting brace that looks like a Fray patent chuck and a more common ratchet. I think that I may already have one similar but a different size, but for $2. I wasn't going to pass it up. I'm hoping we make it to Denver for the Mile High Flea Market, but not sure. I hope to at least get to some of the Pueblo antique stores. And then of course there are all the great small breweries and brew pubs whose goods I would like to sample.

Glad you got out and got a few good finds! Certainly is better weather now than that blizzard last week.

Also, good to know there is a flea market in pueblo, I thought there was one, but I was not certain of it.

 

[RTM]

Not entirely correct, there is at least one old tool seller with a permanent location and the open spot across the aisle from it.

edit: I added an map shot. I think it is the location on "D" street, but could also be the one on "F" street. It's been awhile since I was there, you'll just have to check them both.

I think he right near the permanent restroom there, with an open space behind the restroom he was using as well.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I think he right near the permanent restroom there, with an open space behind the restroom he was using as well.

Yeah, that sounds correct, "D" street.

 

[senlow]

^^^ This

Charlies is great, def worth a visit.

Surplus is hilarious, those dudes must have bought a entire military warehouse(s) in the 70/80s and have been piecing it out ever since.

They have a yearly sale where they open up their aux warehouse. Its wild. Places where you can fall through the mezzanine flooring, cans of chemicals that the EPA would loss their **** over, wasp nest, you name it. But, fun, I added a respirator to my PPE to my last few picks.

Charlie's is great. My daughter used to live across the alley from them. I could see the back of the store from her apartment. A visit to my daughter was an excuse to buy tools.

I've been going to Surplus Tools and commodities since I was a little kid. It was one of my dad's favorite stores. You described the off site warehouse perfectly. It's amazing how much cool stuff was uncovered each year in that warehouse. I found stuff that I hadn't seen before every year that I went to the warehouse sale. I even bought a dozen or so WWII Snap-on tools the last year of the warehouse sales. They did sell that property a couple of years ago. I could be off a little on the date. In their heyday, Surplus Tools and Commodities had an overflow parking lot across the street. Anyone that goes to this store needs to look up at the aisle markers. They are de-milled bombs. There are still quite a few WWII era tools in the store.

 

[DeeKay]

If you're up in the Springs on a weekend you can try the Colorado Springs Flea market, It's right off of Platte and Powers/24. I've only been there once after my service truck got broken in to but there were a few tables with some good stuff. If I had brought any cash I probably would have picked some stuff up.

 

[tarbellb]

Charlie's is great. My daughter used to live across the alley from them. I could see the back of the store from her apartment. A visit to my daughter was an excuse to buy tools.

I've been going to Surplus Tools and commodities since I was a little kid. It was one of my dad's favorite stores. You described the off site warehouse perfectly. It's amazing how much cool stuff was uncovered each year in that warehouse. I found stuff that I hadn't seen before every year that I went to the warehouse sale. I even bought a dozen or so WWII Snap-on tools the last year of the warehouse sales. They did sell that property a couple of years ago. I could be off a little on the date. In their heyday, Surplus Tools and Commodities had an overflow parking lot across the street. Anyone that goes to this store needs to look up at the aisle markers. They are de-milled bombs. There are still quite a few WWII era tools in the store.

Its been 6+ years now that I lived in CO, I likely picked it last in 2015?

The shop has gone down in quality and fun, its a lot of cheap generic stuff mixed in with all the picked over **** from the last 40yrs.

They had a really amazing selection of metal military boxes, ammo cans, supply boxes, specialty equip, etc...

One time at the aux site I got a smoking deal on a bunch of really nice cam lock steel storage boxes, 16" tall x 12" sq, really cool stuff.

Why the good deal you ask- I was the only one willing to beat back the hornets nest where they were stored outside.

 

[Taco Truck]

I think he right near the permanent restroom there, with an open space behind the restroom he was using as well.

I've bought tons of tools from him. Good dude, decent selection, and good prices.

 

[WisJim]

Thanks for all the great advice, I hope to take advantage of it but you know how family affects plans and hopes.