Vendors come together for indoor swap meet

Ricky Henderson and Sylvan Incao were swimming in a pool of debt.

The soft economy took out the pool and spa business that was renting some of their retail space at 6689 E. First St. in Prescott Valley.

After that business left in August 2008, a drywall company that was leasing space in the back of the 11,500-square-foot building vacated the building three months later.

Incao said they thought about renting it out again, but nothing came to fruition.

Then the business partners had an idea.

"We really just hatched this idea in May," he said. "We wanted to do something a little different."

Henderson and Incao decided to turn the building into an indoor market.

Incao said the goal was to open The Red House Marketplace in mid-June as a shopping alternative.

"We wanted to create essentially an indoor swap meet that is a little more classy," he said.

The market is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

There are 40 booths where people like Norman Bechtold are selling a variety of items.

Bechtold, co-owner of Canyon Trace, is selling motorcycle eyewear and designer sunglasses.

In the first weekend the market opened its doors, Bechtold said he sold 90 pairs of sunglasses.

Sales were surprisingly strong for Bechtold and his wife, Sylvia, and they plan to double the size of their booth.

Bechtold, who said the indoor market is like a smaller version of Bashford Court, credits Henderson and Incao for their good business plan, creating effective advertising and providing a unique mix of vendors.

"We're real pleased with the way it's going," he said.

The market offers consumers everything from clothing, antiques and prospecting supplies to arts and crafts items, jewelry and cell phone accessories.

Incao said the market is an affordable option for business owners unable to afford renting large amounts of space.

Vendors pay for their booths monthly, and tenants will expand into the back of the building later this summer.

"This is a great platform to start out with something small with very little risk - it's hard to lose in that scenario," Incao said. "I think we can very clearly say that response has been overwhelmingly positive."

For information, call 925-9721.