A local antiques institution said goodbye Saturday, November 10, when the Woodbury Antiques & Flea Market shut down after 40 years of continuous operation in this town known as “The Antiques Capital of Connecticut.” From it origins as a small gathering of about 15 antique dealers, the market grew until it averaged 150 vendors or more each week throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

“It was a very exciting, dynamic place,” said owner Diane Heavens, who, with her husband Don, has owned the market and the property for 17 years. “Buyers came from throughout Connecticut and even neighboring states,” Heavens continued, “because the level of merchandise was always high. What drew our buyers was the thrill of the hunt, and people were rarely disappointed.”

The last day, which was a very small market because of the November chill, was bittersweet for the Heavens’, who have sold the land for development into a “village”-style retail and office complex.

“Many of the vendors have been coming here for decades. We have one couple who has been here 37 years. These folks have become good friends, and we are saddened to see that come to an end,” Diane Heavens said. With two young granddaughters living right in Woodbury, and the desire to have time for family weekend activities, “the time had come to retire,” Don Heavens explained. “Still, it was hard to say goodbye.”

Any questions, call Diane Heavens at 203-263-2468.