LAKELAND, Fla. — When you step inside the Lakeland Antique Mall, you step back in time.
“For me, it’s nostalgia,” Warren Selinski said. Danya Rizen, visiting Disney from Canada, agreed.
“Nostalgia. Nostalgia,” she added.
Among the 320 booths inside a 44,000-square-foot retail space at 3530 U.S. Highway 98 N., you will find aisles of child memories. There’s McDonald’s memorabilia, collectible figurines, antique furniture, and Disney — a lot of Disney.
“That’s what we’ve become known for. We have classic antiques and traditional antiques, but we also have Disney,” said store manager Phil Evans.
Videos on TikTok and YouTube started circulating and collecting views during the pandemic when parks were closed. They show off hidden Disney treasures and these videos put Lakeland on the map.
“Travel agents we don’t know in New York, they are sending people here,” he said.
A group of friends were still stuck at the front display case where they were sifting through baskets filled with Disney pins: “We’re not from here, so I don’t get a chance to do this. There’s nowhere in Indiana that has this. At all,” Elise Remissong said.
Once you do get beyond the front door, a whole new world of collectibles opens.
Becky Usher with Recycling the Magic has clients from around the world and brings pieces to Lakeland from around the world.
“When people come here, they’re looking for a memory. They’re trying to capture a part of their past that meant something to them. So, that’s what we do. We sell memories,” she said.
Some of those memories are a few dollars and can be packed in a suitcase. There are big-ticket items that bring in the views. On out-of-reach shelves are large figurines.
There’s Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Aladdin…
“Abu and Iago. That is actually sold. That item is going to California to one of our clients out there,” Usher said.
Usher showed us some of the big-ticket items currently in the store.
“All of the real nostalgia, all of the Disney Store props, ride vehicles, all of those are coming out of private collections. People bought from Disney in the '80s and '90s, and they’ve had it in their personal collection for years and years," she said.
"Now they’re getting older, they kids don’t want it and we go around buying all over the country."
There’s a doll from the 1930s signed by Walt Disney himself that’s priced at $12,500. Other items are just on display, there for customers to take in and enjoy.
“This nutcracker is actually one that was in the parks from 1961 to 1963. He’s eye candy right now. He’s in the store. I don’t have a price on him yet,” Usher said. “I think for this holiday season, I’ll keep him here at the store for everyone to come and see.”