After this weekend, Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney will close for good. The iconic trade market, established in the 1880s, is known to be one of the oldest businesses in the city.
Retired teacher and owner of the business, Darrell Lewis, said regarding the property: “You are standing on probably the most historic grounds in North Texas.” He claims it is where the Kiowa tribe lived and buried the tribe’s chief. Lewis also said the property “was the first county seat of Collin County.”
The day-trade market hosts crowds and hundreds of local vendors like Lori Brown for one weekend a month.
Brown described what it is like to be a part of the market: “It’s 10 hours to put up and about six hours to take down.”
Now, the market will be no more.
Lewis and his wife are closing shop because “It’s time for us to retire. I’ll be 78 this year, and the other reason is the property offers the community a lot of benefits if it’s used daily.” He plans to sell the property.
Brown wishes other vendors the best of luck on future endeavors, “I wish the very best for everyone and I hope that we’re able to build new traditions.”
He hopes for good weather so that people will come out and support the market for its final weekend. It will be open on Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.