Root's Old Mill Flea Market — Local services in East Hempfield Township

This has to be one of the best flea markets out there. Maybe the best! The vendors are polite and attentive. The tables just go on and on forever on the outside. Today was super windy so it was hard for them to watch some of their items so they don't fly away but they were still polite and happy to do business. It opens early which brings me to my only gripe about the place. Vendors do back up by 1pm and sometimes earlier. I recommend getting their early if you can. You'll most likely beat the crowds too as it is a very popular spot.

They also have buildings outside with other goods and hand crafted items, (outside vendors have crafted items as well.) They have animals for sale as well if you are into that. There also is a live auction you can participate in if any item catches your eye!

The food is also amazing and delicious. You'll find deli's, sweet treats, candy, Amish goods and treats, things like hamburgers and hot dogs, and other even sit down restaurants inside the buildings. You'll also be able to do your grocery list shopping if you want with amazing fresh produce and meats and other cooked goods as well.

Outside has other amazing food. They have everything from amazing fries and pretzels to full meals like pit beef to pulled pork and other BBQ goods. There are options for everyone. They have great coffee and other drinks as well. In the main area outside where you can sit down and eat at the many tables they have, thry usally have live music as well. There was a very talented solo artist there at the time we went. I'm sure he was there all day as he was there for the five hours...

I have done the fle market a handful of times in 2024 and 2025 as a vendor selling house hold items and tools. Pros there are there some great customers amazing food a relaxed atmosphere for the most part, loyal repeat customers, security, peaceful country setting, family oriented.

The cons are most customers are looking for a deal don't expect them to pay 75% under retail or lower, Cranky people, Karen's, it's rare but sometimes you run into negative vendors that try to create problems to try and run you off, the early birds that low ball every thing, some theft but not nearly as bad as York or Ephrata. Be careful when it's dark unloading your attention is focused on setting up I have observed shady people lurking around my vehicle when my back is turned.

Neutral feedback it's $20 for a spot, call early to get a better spot, bring your own tables, 2 porta potty, In the summer it's better to get there before 7 am things start to die down around 11, No sun shade it's in the middle of a field, bring change plenty of ones try to use whole numbers so you don't have to make change. The closer you are to the market more foot traffic.

Not to throw shade on the business these are just some things I wish I would have known so I could have been...

They would steal you blind. We took paper supplies in to be auctioned off. The man at the window told us to write 122 on the ticket and set the cart in the aisle. I did not have a pen so he wrote it on the ticket. We did exactly what he told us to do. Never got paid for the stuff. They claim this happens all the time. We supposedly wrote the wrong number on the ticket and they paid someone else. But because it was our fault i don't get paid. WE DID NOT PUT THE NUMBER ON THE TICKET. Our neighbors took a parrot in to be sold. They tagged it for the bird and cave to be sold SEPARATELY. People who bid on her did so figuring they were going to pay out another $100 for the cage. After the bird was sold the auctioneer decided to GIVE them tbe cage with the bird. They are crooked people. They made $140 for selling the bird it took them 2 minutes tops. They could not put another minute into selling the cage. Yet they spend the same amount of time making $.20 on a dozen of eggs. This place is a freaking joke. Take your stuff to any other auction house this one will leave you...