DAISIES AND OLIVES 129 E. BUCHANAN ST.

Since it opened in 1997, Daisies and Olives has become one the most popular flea markets in the Northwest Arkansas area. Anchoring Prairie Grove’s “antique district” on the town’s main drag, Buchanan Street, it has been a perennial favorite on the “best of” lists in several major publications for nearly 20 years.

The 10,000-square-foot shopping bonanza was born when the Cooper-Ritchie family purchased two adjoining “project” buildings “in need of TLC downtown,” says family spokeswoman Martha Cooper Ritchie. “We began one step at a time with no particular plan in mind.”

Ritchie says she will soon be announcing a date for the 20th

anniversary of the store, which takes its quirky name from the matriarchs of the Cooper-Ritchie family, Daisy Cooper and Olive Ritchie.

“Daisies and Olives has always been and will continue to be a work in progress,” says Ritchie. “We have a great love and respect for the old historical buildings and the stories they tell. Working with these rooms, creating niches — each with its own personality — has been a beautiful journey. We love every aspect of the antiquing and junking tradition, and we love Prairie Grove.”

The huge variety of items available may be why shoppers flock to Daisies and Olives— they can spend hours winding their way around the maze-like store, finding items ranging from upscale antiques to dime store relics of the past in approximately 75 well-decorated booths. And, says Ritchie, once vintage lovers have scoured every inch of Daisies and Olives, there’s plenty more to see on historic Buchanan Street.

“There are so many great neighbor stores on Buchanan Street and the surrounding area that historic downtown Prairie Grove has become what our customers tell us is an antique/ vintage/flea market mecca,” says Ritchie.

“We believe that more of the best is yet to come for our adventure-loving shoppers.”