This longtime Commercial Street flea market is closing after 26 years

A mainstay of the Commercial Street Historic District is closing. According to a Facebook post by owner Russell Silva, the building that houses MJ's Antiques and Collectibles was sold. The business will close its doors July 31.

"We've looked at a couple buildings on C-Street, but it doesn't go anywhere else," Silva said.

Silva told the News-Leader his grandmother, MJ Climer, started the flea market at 208 E. Commercial St. 26 years ago. She originally only intended to stay and sell her treasures for a month. One month turned into 26 years of business.

When Climer died earlier this year, she passed the torch to Silva. He said it was a way to carry on his grandmother's legacy.

"We completely rearranged everything and kept all of her collections and kind of just added our own flavor to her stuff. And four or five months later, here we are."

Silva announced the store's closing in a Facebook post on July 6. He said while the physical store will no longer be open, customers can still find MJ's at Relics Antique Mall, RC Flea Mart, and Riker's Flea and Furniture in Nixa.

"This closure marks the end of an era — a legacy that began with my grandmother, MJ. For the past 26 years, she lovingly curated and distributed hand-picked items from our shop. Her passion and dedication have left an indelible mark, and her spirit lives on through the treasures she shared with people all over the world," Silva wrote.

Silva told the News-Leader he and other tenants were given 30 days to vacate after the building changed ownership. He said he tried to buy the building himself, but he didn't go through with the deal. He said the seller wanted too much for a building that was already deteriorating.

Randall Ebrite is listed as the property owner with the Greene County assessor's office. Ebrite did not respond to the News-Leader's request for comment.

"It was a problem anyway," Silva said. "But you know, hopefully, somebody will come in there and fix it up really nice. I was hoping we could be a part of that, but I guess it was not in the cards."