Hunt for treasures at Suisun Valley Antiques & Collectibles

Hunt for treasures at Suisun Valley Antiques & Collectibles

While there is no buried gold beneath the streets of Fairfield – none that we know of at least – there is still plenty of treasures to be found, especially out in Suisun Valley’s historic Mankas Corner. Suisun Valley Antiques & Collectibles, owned by John and Janelle Crossley, has an eclectic selection of just about any type of antique imaginable – period furniture and antiques, vintage bicycles, jewelry, cameras, wooden window panes, wine bottles, garden tools, bar signs, and even buttons, just to name a few – spread out on a one-acre lot on Mankas Corner Road. “You name it, I probably have it,” laughed John Crossley, who also owns John’s Hauling. “I even have a thimble collection.” Located in a picturesque hamlet at the junctions of Mankas Corner, Clayton and Gordon Valley Roads, the antique store is a fantastic source in Solano County for one of a kind treasures. Expect to find anything and everything, from vintage barber chairs to 60’s era bubble gum machines. There are DVDs and VHS tapes, antique clocks, bottle caps, various sports balls, pots and plants, and “lots and lots of rusty stuff,” Crossley said. Suisun Valley Antiques 2 Plan a day to come out to the valley and see all the treasures that have been collected. There is a lot of inventory spread across the lot. Some of it has come from haul jobs, Crossley explained, from foreclosed and abandoned homes or stores that have gone out of business. “Whatever we get, we go through the load and anything we can salvage, save or sell, we pull out,” he said. The items that can be recycled are, he added, and many other items are donated to area churches, schools and similar organizations. “It’s fun and it keeps these items out of the landfill.” Crossley is always willing to purchase pre-owned items that people no longer want or have space for in their homes for his antique store. The business will also trade or provide store credit in exchange for the items. It’s amazing to think about everything that has been in the store, he added, and what people have in their homes. Wood and nails, antique photo frames, bar mirrors and bar signs, glass knick knacks – the list goes on and on. “I like when people bring us things,” he said. “A lot of people have items they haven’t thrown out yet because it’s too good to get rid of and we would love for them to bring it to us.” The business is also a licensed recycle facility for old televisions and electronic devices. It’s just one more way the Crossleys strive to help the environment. Suisun Valley Antiques & Collectibles is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekends. The business hosts a giant tent sale on the third weekend of every month. This month’s tent sale is this week, Thursday to Sunday. Expect to find even more treasures when you come and visit. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. “The tents are already up outside,” Crossley said Tuesday. “Usually when people see the tents up, they start coming. But it takes us three to four days just to get ready for those weekend sales. There’ll be so much out there.” Suisun Valley Antiques and Collectibles is located at 2525 Mankas Corner Road.