“At first it was just things that I could use myself, and then I found out I could take some things out of the trash and refurbish them and sell them to make money,” he said.
This carried on into his adult life. Bowman’s passion for things no one wanted eventually led him to own the Springboro Flea Market.
He always worked a full-time job but still picked-up things up from the thrash or from a garage sale to re-sell or re-purpose for his own use.
Bowman’s last full-time job before starting the Springboro Flea Market was as a Quality Control Technician for Stat Communications, a contractor for Time Warner Cable.
His business moved and is now located in Franklin, where he recently had a one-year anniversary.
Previously, he was located in the city of Springboro. The city purchased the IGA plaza about 2 years after he opened his store, but the city of Springboro had a Realtor to help him find a new place for the market.
Bowman, his wife, Anna, and their sons, Billy and Tommy, moved to Springboro, about 15 years ago, where he coached his boys in Little League Baseball.
Bowman was also a Cub Master for Pack 730 in Springboro, and both sons belonged to it, and he was a Scoutmaster for Troop 50. Each of his boys participated and each made Eagle Scout.
The oldest, Billy, graduated from Hocking College, and Tommy will graduate from Sinclair College in August.
Anna Bowman is an assistant principal at Middletown High School and has been most supportive of her husband running Springboro Flea Market. Their sons have both worked for their father. They helped him move from his old location in Springboro and built all the booths at his new location, 315 Conover Drive, Franklin.
“Without the help of my two boys, I could not have moved to my new location,” said Bowman.
The beginning of his dream was about 7 years ago. Bowman began a small flea market in Lebanon on Rt. 122. Due to zoning issues they had to move out of that building.
After that a friend of Bowman’s who owned the building where he began Springboro Flea Market asked him to sell some items for her from the discards of a previous tenant. It went well so he leased the building for an indoor Flea Market.
Bill’s Springboro Flea Market in Franklin has grown to over 100 booths with a variety of items from vintage and antique furniture to jewelry, gold and silver coins. Vendors bring new items in daily.
“Last year we had new AC installed in the building to make shopping as comfortable as possible. When we moved in, the building was not air conditioned because it was a warehouse previously.”
Sharon Motasky is an employee.
“She was a vendor before becoming my employee and has now worked for me for the last 4 years,” said Bowman. “I also have a clock and watch repairman named Chuck McKinney.”
The market includes refurbished furniture and a collection of vintage toys and children’s items. “So we really have items for just about any shopper,” he said. “We have several vendors that have what people would call ‘man cave’ items from neon signs to vintage automobile related items and sports related items.”
They are open 7 days a week from 10-7 Monday to Saturday and Sunday 10-5.
Information at 937-550-9639.
Contact this contributing writer shirl54bel@gmail.com
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