Merchants Square Mall

I am sure that this post will seem biased since I own a business here but there is a reason and that is the ambiance and charm. While the shops seem disjointed I assure you that there is something for everyone and that is how it works so well. When I was a kid my mother would take me here to shop and I remember being 10 years old and saying, «one day I will have a shop here». I never imagined having a business there but when the possibility arose I couldn’t say «no». The merchants are good hearted people, there are events going on constantly, it may only be open to the public Fri –Sun but it is a great place to visit any one of those days.

Have you ever seen the movie Mallrats? You know when Brodie and T.S. go to the «dirt mall» and get their fortune read by the fortune teller with three boobs? THAT is THIS PLACE! There was a couple of interesting things to see but it was not clean, there were a couple of shady guys who looked like meth heads that were walking around the parking lot and I am sure if I looked long enough I would have found a fortune teller with three boobs! It was unreal!

If you are looking to collect random toys from times past, or sewing machines, I guess this is the place for you. If you are looking for anything beyond that though, you might as well skip this place and go looking elsewhere. Many of these shops are so specifically tailored to kids or collectors of kid’s stuff, it’s out of control. It’s like an episode of Hoarders, where everyone is now trying to sell their «treasures». If you are into that, great, but not my thing. Not worth the drive over here to check this stuff out, unfortunately.

Atrocious! That is the word I’d use to describe this dirt-​mall. This place is absolutely disgusting. All of the rooms could use a major cleaning, and the merchants could use a serious attitude adjustment. I asked several merchants if they had the item I was looking for and I just got shrugs and dirty looks. I inquired about prices and they just said «all the prices are different»…yeah, I just wanted to know what they were. These guys need to figure out customer service if they have any desire to move out of their parents’ basements.
If I could have given them zero stars I would have. Complete waste of time and gas money!

It’s like the love child of Weil Clock Center and Zern’s Farm Market. I was expecting it to be a bit unkempt and also quite seedy, like Zern’s, but it was not like this at all. The building is very well kept and is very clean inside. I really enjoyed looking at the auction items. There were very unusual items here, including a kaleidoscope from the 20^th century.

Very unique «mall». We found this gem when attending The Great Allentown Comic Con that was held at the mall. First of all this is not an average mall, it’s more like an indoor antique/​flea market (think Dirt Mall from Mallrats.) We walked in and immediately found a comic/​toy/​video game shop with a large selection. Another shop has everything from Hess Trucks, NASCAR merchandise, trading cards, to used DVD’s. Merchants have a large auction shop with an impressive array of items that change monthly. There is also what I would call the «flea market» area with individual booths and various dealers including video games, toys/​miniatures, trading cards, and various other items. Several other shops also share this floor including newer trading card and comic shops.
The second floor houses Carson’s Pro Wrestling World, a wrestling shop with several large displays of singed merchandise in an almost museum like setup. A train exhibit and women’s clothing boutique is also upstairs. One of the newer tenants of the second floor is an action figure shop. Other shops also share this floor including a consignment shop.
Merchants Square also have a rather large parking lot to accommodate customers. The mall has showroom space that can become quite crowded depending on the setup. The Great Allentown Comic Con due to crowding had to move its registration into an outside trailer for the fall 2014 convention due to the Linecon that occurred during the summer 2014 convention. Panels for the Great Allentown Comic Con have been held in various places around the mall including the back of a former hobby shop, the auction space, and empty space on the second floor.
Even with several shops closing over the last year including a comic/​hobby shop, trading card shop, a large hobby shop (miniatures/​gaming), and a train/​hobby shop, the mall is still very full with opportunities for deals. If you like browsing and exploring, plan on spending several hours here. It is fully worth your time.

If you are looking for collectables this is the mall for you! I feel like they have everything. I have been to this mall a few times. Mainly I come here for the twice a year gigantic consignment sale. But I do enjoy seeing all the great collectables. There is a really nice sewing machine store that has antique sewing machines outside. Also there is a guy that hand paints sports team signs. If you are looking for a gift for a sports fan, i would stop by here and see what they have to offer. Also there is a restaurant, it smells great but I have never been there at the right time of day to eat there.

I really like Merchant’s Square Mall. They have so many different vintage items and antiques to see and buy. I especially love the silent auctions held every month. This place is like a huge treasure box, you never know what you may find!!!

This is a key spot for lovers of junk, toys, collectibles, sports memorabilia, antiques and such. Merchant’s Square Mall is a indoor collection independent dealers, and is always a fun shopping trip. In addition to the regular vendors, there are periodic ‘shows’ with many vendors set up with booths in a big open room; we’ve be there for pinball and non-​sports cards shows.
The mall is a little hard to find, so do your research ahead of time. My TomTom GPS took us to the wrong place the first time we tried to find it. It’s pretty far back from the road and partially hidden.

I went here with my baby and my baby daddy for a non-​sport card show. This is the kind of creepy little mall I like, all antique-​y and filled with strange peeps. The Family Fun Center was my fave, it was this big mostly empty room at the lonely end of the mall. There are some old-​ass video games, a pool table etc. The saddest thing is the Birthday area, maybe its just sad without kids. All under bare flourescent lights, creepy. Its a must visit, also there is a auction that seemed pretty neat.

I love Merchants Square. It is such a strange, wonderful place full of treasures and characters from the Lehigh Valley. I am here about once a month (or twice, depending on how my bids are doing at the silent auction, or bid board as it’s referred to) to poke around and spend time chatting with people about old stuff.
Hidden Valley Treasures in Suite 12 is by far and large my favorite place to poke around at. Bonnie is amazing and is super-​knowledge about all of the items (which is a lot, believe me) she has up for sale. I spend quite bit of time there, looking for housewares for myself and for gifts for my friends and family. I really dig on old, weird stuff, be it jewelry or toys or bits of ephemera and pop culture and she has it.
The record shows they put on during the year are also pretty great. The vinyl is high quality (which the price reflects, sort of) and the vendors are really great. I picked up a hardly used copy of The Clash’s London Calling for 10 bucks at the December show and it made my month.
Check out the Bid Board for strange, ever-​changing stuff you had no idea you needed, like a vintage Oster-​Meyer blender or 60’s era Playboys or taxidermy pheasants.

A unique alternative to a traditional mall, you never know what you’re going to find at Merchant’s square. They have an eclectic mix of antiques, childrens clothes, vinyl, crafts and even a silent auction.
Plan on spending some time poking about. Great for the off-​beat crowd.