Lisle “Trash and Treasures” an opportunity to find good deals

Residents of Lisle and surrounding areas will get the chance to browse among hundreds of items from up to 60 vendors at the 19th annual Trash and Treasures sale.

The sale features collectibles, clothing, crafts and other yard-sale items and will run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 23, in the Lisle commuter parking lot on Burlington Avenue.

The function is sponsored by the Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce. Tom Althoff, president and CEO of the chamber, said a couple hundred people typically come out to take a look at what the vendors have to offer.

Trash and Treasures was taken over by the Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce in 1999 when the Downtown Business Group, which originated the event, became a subcommittee of the commerce.

“It was started by the Downtown Business Group and it was to bring more people to the downtown area, to bring in more customers,” Althoff said.

Vendors pay $30 to sell their items from a 16-foot-square booth. While most are relatively local to Lisle, vendors have come from other states as well. Althoff said the amount people make varies greatly, but they always get at least the money back they spent on the space.

“Everyone makes their $30 plus, but it could be hundreds depending on what they're selling,” he said.

Vendors get the benefit of having a larger market than they might if they had their own garage sale.

“Because it's a large venue, relatively speaking, they get the benefit of all those people coming to see them,” Althoff said.

And community members get the benefit of finding items at a low cost.

“Basically, any time you go to any kind of garage sale, you're looking for good deals,” Althoff said.

Bill Miller of Plainfield has participated in Trash and Treasures three times over the past five or six years, selling household items he no longer has a need for — lawn chairs, electronics, tools and decorative items, among others.

“It differs each time I've gone because I have different stuff I don't need anymore,” Miller said.

He said he has made an average of $100 to $200 in the years he's gone, and he also finds the sale a good opportunity to find items he might need from the other vendors.

“I think it's a good sale,” Miller said. “I enjoy it; that's why I'm going back this year.”

If you go

What: 19th annual Trash and Treasures

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 23

Where: Lisle commuter parking lot on Burlington Avenue

Cost: Free admission

Info: info@lislechamber.com or (630) 964-0052