A collection of items found in the building has been named the Vintage Wards Museum, including a metal knight figure that was found in the building’s boiler room. | Photo by Dorri Partain
A collection of items found in the building has been named the Vintage Wards Museum, including a metal knight figure that was found in the building’s boiler room. | Photo by Dorri Partain

Dorri Partain

Managing Editor

Built to house a full array of consumer goods, this former warehouse for Montgomery Wards Co. is still packed with items that have been stored away for decades. As part of its new owner Cubework’s process to rebrand its Super Flea market place, employees have discovered items from yesteryear to display as a homage to the story of this building’s history.

Adrianna Alonzo, former social media marketing associate for Cubework, was intrigued by items such as old cameras, merchandise catalogs and old Avon perfume canisters — many left behind in storage units or former flea market booths. The array of items gave her the idea that many could be displayed to create a “Vintage Wards Museum” inside the marketplace. She did some research on specific items and created QR coded videos that provide more details and make this display more interactive.

Many obsolete items are on display. Can you guess what this machine was used for? | Photo by Dorri Partain

In keeping with the vintage department store theme, Rita Strickland — Cubework business development manager — said she purchased the museum area’s display cases from a Macy’s store in Chicago, IIl. Among items on display, her favorites include vintage fashion magazines.

With the exception of the Avon perfumes, many items displayed may have been sold by catalog department stores such as Wards. The building’s warehouse was completed in 1914 at a cost of $75,000 — featuring all the latest technology of the day. A retail store was opened on the first floor in 1928 and expanded in 1964. This expansion included an elevated walkway from the parking lot across the street that entered directly into the retail store.

Local investor Skip Sleyster purchased the vacant, cavernous seven-story complex and opened Super Flea on the first floor in 1993. Market stalls were created from 2 by 4 lumber and chicken wire and shoppers rambled about looking for various bargains every weekend after paying a 50 cent admission. 

Newspaper clippings from 1993 and a large aerial photo of the Montgomery Wards complex are included in this “Vintage Wards Museum” to showcase the building’s transformation.

Articles from 1993, which include the original Super Flea logo for display. | Photo by Dorri Partain

Cubework — a warehouse provider based in California — purchased the building at 6200 St. John Ave., in July 2022 from descendants of Sleyster. 

With a vision to reinvent the market space, Cubework’s plan has reconfigured stalls with grid panels, painted all the surfaces and improved lighting. A children’s area featuring nostalgic coin-operated rides has taken shape, along with a “welcome center” for Super Flea vendors and shoppers adjacent to this museum display.

A new main entrance accessible from St. John Avenue has been completed and was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, March 13.

Cubework additionally plans to open a new food court later this year.

 Super Flea is open from  8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; There is no longer an admission fee.