Victorian Rose is closed, the space is now an antiques store…read more It was the perfect store for mother of the bride type formal wear and had china seconds from England for proper tea. No more.

Maybe my chosen star rating isn't fair because when I was originally referred to this store, I was…read moreunder the assumption it is an antiques store & was taken aback when I discovered otherwise. Upon entering, you are instantly swept away and taken back to the good 'ol,days when houses had character instead of the boring mass produced crap companies build now. You're encased by beautiful woodwork and distracted by the beauty of the many colorful stained glass work (neither for sale) throughout the store. However, the over-the-top pricing will have your eyes bulging out of your head quicker than a hard on. What I saw was NOT antiques but mass produced replicas. Don't get me wrong, if you have the money- lots & lots of money & enjoy fashions similar to that of New York or Paris runways then you'll drool over their extravagant shoe collection and day dream about sporting that $300.00 plus dollar white womens coat in the window then you've found one of the few places in Ohio where fashion is truly appreciated. But again, everything in that store is a replica and not an actual antique, although the name implies otherwise. They offer a huge variety of jewelry and handbags in every color as well. What they fail to offer is a simple hello ; as I was browsing the store for a 1/2 hour not one associate said "Hi" or asked if I needed help (considering that almost every single shelf in the store has a sign stating that you need to ask for assistance if you wish to see an item in that store; you think staff would be more available). I did however, find myself finally greeted as I was very obviously leaving; go figure. So again, my rating might not be fair but I also hate wasting my time.

Last weekend we took a Saturday morning trip to the Hartville Marketplace & Flea Market, and it…read moreturned out to be such a fun outing! When you first pull in, you're greeted by the huge marketplace sign, and right on the corner is the garden center--complete with the famous Bigfoot that everyone seems to stop and pose with. I was surprised to learn that vendors can rent a 10x10 outdoor space for just $22 a day. The catch is you reserve the same day each week for four weeks in advance, since the flea market is only open four days a week. $27.00 under the pavilion but there's a waiting list. Before we started shopping, we stopped at Sarah's Grill for lunch. Their burgers were delicious--fresh tomato, crisp lettuce, sweet onion... definitely worth the stop! Then came my favorite find of the day... strawberries! They were advertised at $5 a flat. When I picked one up, I noticed a few moldy berries underneath. The vendor immediately smiled and offered them to me for $4 a flat instead. Sold! I brought home two flats, which worked out to about 16 quarts of strawberries. Of course, I couldn't leave without grabbing a bag of fresh kettle corn--that's become one of my favorite flea market traditions! Like any flea market, there was a little bit of everything--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some booths looked freshly stocked, while others looked like they hadn't changed in weeks. But that's part of the adventure. You never know what treasure you'll stumble across. When we got home, I immediately flash-froze most of the strawberries, and the rest became homemade freezer jam. All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning--good food, great bargains, and a freezer full of summer to enjoy later. Have you ever been to the Hartville Marketplace? What's your favorite thing to hunt for there?

Such a cute place. It's pretty much a one stop for all your needs. There is the flea market with…read moremany vendors. If you are looking for vintage items this is your place. I like visiting Duma Meats. They carry all different kinds of meats, cheese, honey, etc. Good prices for excellent products. There is a small food court inside as well. Next store they have the market as well and Hartville kitchen. Such a cute place to visit.

The Pine Cone Shoppe is a beautiful decor shop. Found the owner's (Gary) store tour while looking…read morefor Shooner pottery which was so very nicely done.. we traveled from Rochester, NY and it was so well worth it. Gary is very charming and makes you feel very welcome. The store is gorgeous and so many beautiful items. Definitely will be making a return trip.

GFCF Brownie Mix! A gift shop that "specializes in primitive, Early American, and country decor"…read moremay not be the first place you think of to shop if you're a GFCF chocoholic, but you should check it out. They carry a GFCF-Nut free "Killer Mudd Brownie Mix" that is terrific. Makes a 9x13 pan - you add GFCF margarine (we use Fleischmanns), applesauce & eggs. I'd bet a flax seed egg sub would work if you needed it. It is great, the mix includes chocolate chips, and we add vegan fudge as frosting. They carry other GF baking mixes and soup mixes as well.