Flea Market moves; becomes antique store

A new location has given a longtime Bella Vista business room to expand -- both physically and creatively.

After 32 years, Bella Vista Vintage and Antiques MALL moved a few miles south, and owner Crystal Ordonez has some new ideas for the business.

Ordonez also has a new partner; Marcus Harris is co-owner of the business. The pair spend a lot of time talking about community involvement.

It's no longer a flea market, Ordonez said. Now they will only accept vendors who have vintage or antiques for sale. They have plenty of room for the 60 vendors already signed up and will add even more. Ordonez is hoping to add more furniture, possibly, on consignment. The furniture, she said, doesn't have to be antiques, but it must be good quality furniture.

There's even a kitchen downstairs that may become a meeting room for small groups looking for a space.

Once a month, they will invite their own vendors and some guest vendors to set up outside. That will give everyone the chance to bring large items for sale, she said.

There will also be movie nights out back. The new location comes with a back lawn where people can set up chairs or blankets and watch a movie projected onto the back wall of the business. During football season, she expects to host tailgates and game-watching parties.

"The possibilities are almost endless," Harris said.

The area will get even busier as more and more people start to use the new bypass, Ordonez said.

The store is located in an unincorporated area of Benton County, not within the city limits of Bentonville, she said. It's south of Walgreens just off Highway 71 B.

Harris hopes to have a larger selection of sports equipment. It would go along with the man-cave room the pair are planning. Inside the man cave, fishing equipment, antique lures and tools will be for sale, but there will also be space for men to sit and wait while their wives shop.

The second entrance in back provides access to the downstairs for people who can't use the inside stairs.

The new address is 13026 N. Highway 71B/Frontage Road, Bentonville. That is just south of the Church of Christ at the intersection of U.S. 71 and McNelly Road (County Road 40). The phone is 479-855-6999. They have a Facebook page which can be found by searching Bella Vista Vintage & Antiques.