By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

For three weeks every year, Lisa Vonderstruck of Brandywine View Antiques in Chadds Ford makes the seven-hour drive to Brimfield, Mass. To attend the week-long Brimfield Antique Show, where 200,000 buyers and 20,000 vendors help to turn the quiet, New England town into an antique lover's paradise.

In 2015 and 2016, Vonderstruck brought that idea to Chester County, and her Massive Barn Market, held at the Chadds Ford Historical Society grounds, attracted dozens of vendors, overflow crowds and drew the Route 1-Route 100 intersection nearly to a close. On June 22 and 23, Vonderstruck will be joined by several other shop owners and vendors to turn a five-mile stretch of the Route 1 into a “Brimfield South” corridor of history, curiosity and antiques.

The First Annual Chadds Ford Treasure Trail will allow customers to shop at four locations along Route 1 – Brandywine View Antiques, the Chadds Ford Barn Shops, the Pennsbury-Chadds Ford Antique Mall and the Brandywine River Antiques Market. Along the route, they'll be able to enjoy the inventory of more than 200 vendors at 10 shops, and take a breather at two cafes.

Vonderstruck organized the treasure trail in collaboration with Barbara Moore of Chadds Ford Gallery, Michael McLimans of Brandywine River Antiques and Bri Brent of Chadds Ford Barn Shops. 

“I've seen how the wonderful town of Brimfield essentially closes down three times a year, turning itself over to the antiques fair,” Vonderstruck said, “so I organized the Massive Barn Market and I shut down Chadds Ford along Route 1 a few years ago. This year, I figured that if I got a few other shops  involved, maybe the concept would work a little bit better.”

If the first antique treasure trail is successful, Vonderstruck said she would like to schedule a follow-up event in the fall “and then continue to grow it, with restaurants, museums and pop-up locations along Route 1,” she said.

“It doesn't matter where you go along the trail, or where you start. The goal is to explore, have fun, and maybe pick-up a sweet treasure. I hope everyone gets an opportunity to find that special item they are looking for.”

The First Annual Chadds Ford Treasure Trail begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine. To learn more visit Brandywine View Antiques on Facebook, or call 610-388-6060.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].