The Michigan State University Surplus Store is a local favorite for deals on just about anything you can think of from bikes to furniture to even maple syrup produced by school researchers.
On Saturday, vintage clothes and shoes, 46- and 48-star American flags and even a cast of Michigan actor Bruce Campbell’s face are just some of the hundreds of items from all different parts of the university available during a special antique sale.
Operations Coordinator Chris Hewitt says summer is an especially busy time for the store.
"A lot of departments are gearing up for the next fall," he said. "So, departments are kind of moving and purging old things they have in the back."
Store employee Annie Young says she’s put around 200 hours into researching the items in the sale.
Like one piece of Lansing history: a heavy, wooden, L-shaped bench that was once mounted in the Lansing Union Depot on Michigan Avenue.
"There is very few wear and tear scratches. Everything is extremely sturdy. We have the original hardware," she said.
Another large piece that Young doesn’t know as much about is a small horse-drawn carriage. She was was able to figure out it was used in the early 1900s in Albion.
"Of all the buggies that I have seen come in here, this is probably the most elaborate as well as just immaculate condition that I have seen."
Young’s tip for snagging the piece that you want? Get there early.
"As soon as we open those gates at eight, I'm sure that we'll have a line starting to form."
The antique sale at the surplus store runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
