Car crashes into flea market

Friends and workers at the Giant Garage Sales Flea Market on Trolley Line Road began cleanup Friday after a car barreled through the front of the building.

The driver abandoned his car at the store and fled. According to the state Highway Patrol report, the driver of the car was unknown, but the driver was not the owner of the car. There were no reports of an arrest as of Friday evening.

Flea market owner Irving Summer didn't have an estimate of the damage. The car crashed through the supports of an awning over the front and clipped the building, knocking out a large window and sending bricks through the store where the more valuable antiques were kept, he said.

The awning was destroyed. Several wooden vendor tables and shelves were reduced to rubble.

Summer said he plans to reopen next week.

"We have a lot of regular people, and they'll miss us," he said.

His workers, vendors and friends arrived Friday morning to begin hauling away the debris. By mid-afternoon, much was cleared, and workers were building a temporary covering for the large hole in the front of the building.

Summer said he has owned the business for about 15 years. The 1950s building has had many tenants - a superette, a clothing store, a gas station and even a pool room.

The flea market is usually open Fridays and Saturdays. Summer said he usually has about 10 vendors outside and sells antiques and other items inside.

Contact Jennifer Miller at jmiller@aikenstandard.com.