By Christina Porter, local author
Beth and Dawn’s Garage Sale began as just that—a garage sale—more than 12 years ago. Beth Johnson and about a dozen friends began having “Garage Sale with Friends Weekends” in Beth’s empty building on Nauvoo Road, and it just kept growing. Today, they consider themselves a ministry. People, not profits, are the focus.
Beth met Dawn Farmwald more than 20 years ago when their kids were enrolled together at a Christian school. They lost touch but reunited at church 12 years ago, and Beth’s “Garage Sale with Friends” became “Beth and Dawn’s.”
Inspired by The City Mission in Cleveland, the two began discussing opening a ministry, outreach, or community center—a place for people to go to get out, to see others, or a place to hang out for a while if they simply need a hug or a prayer. Some of the shop’s many regular customers come from other states, like Pennsylvania, and some from as far away as California.
It may have started out empty, but Beth’s building certainly isn’t empty anymore. It’s filled with a delightful mix of unique items: kitchen basics and gizmos, statuary, furniture, vintage knick-knacks, costume jewelry, clothing, shoes, toys, books, and tools, to name a few. The 15-20 regular volunteers meet at least once a week to straighten the shelves and put out new selections, so you never know what you’ll find. Twenty-six-year-old special needs customer Noah is a regular who loves the VHS section and popping different movies into the VCR that plays when the shop is open.
The shop does accept donations, and proceeds from those items go into an account set up at Abundant Life Ministry Center in Burton to help the community. These funds might pay for specific items or buy gift certificates for those in need. Besides their commitment to Abundant Life, Beth and Dawn have worked with Birthright and Dreams to Dreams, as well as the Harriet Tubman Movement, which assists victims of human trafficking.
Beth and Dawn have a generous attitude toward other stores, resale or otherwise, and never view them as competition because they feel the more things that are around, the more people will be pulled into Middlefield, benefiting everyone.
Visit Beth and Dawn’s Facebook page for videos, scads of pictures, and a special treat—to see more than 500 of Dawn’s outfits. For those of you who have ever wondered, yes, that is Dawn’s real hair and her actual wardrobe. She savors when people tell her that her outfit made them smile or made their day. Beth and Dawn are considered superheroes by many of their most interesting customers. One, local artist Kenneth Pawlak, even developed and sketched a fantastic superhero persona for each woman.
Beth and Dawn’s Garage Sale is located at 16029 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield, OH 44062, and normal hours are Monday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They have opened other hours to accommodate group tours and even entire tour buses. You can call Beth at (440) 668-7573.
Don’t forget to pick up your loyalty card and bring it back each time you stop in. Your card will be stamped for each $1 spent on clothing, shoes, books, movies, or music, and once full, will add up to an additional discount on top of already reasonable prices.
Photo Captions:
Kenneth Pawlak’s superhero depiction of Beth and Dawn.
(l-r) Dawn Farmwald and Beth Johnson in the perpetual holiday room of their garage sale store.
