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Paynesville Press - Aug. 27, 2003

Liberty Market opens in city

By Bonnie Jo Hanson

Karlene Gray and daughter Bailey Karlene Gray (pictured with her daughter Bailey) has opened a new business in Paynesville. Specializing in unique home furnishings and accessories, Liberty Market features flea market finds, hand created pieces, and art from all over the world.

Gray opened Liberty Market after operating an "upscale flea market" in the Twin Cities with her mother, Kathy Webb, for several years. She thought that Paynesville, with its wealth of antique shops, was an ideal location for the kind of funky, kitschy things she found at the flea market. In fact, much of the inventory at Liberty Market Ð from a side table made from an antique door to a dining table adorned with hand painted fruit ÐÊ comes from vendors and artists that Gray met while working at the flea market. Many of the vendors find their wares in Europe.

Liberty Market, located at 23 Washburne Avenue, is open on Fridays and Saturdays. Gray doesn't know yet whether the shop will remain open during the winter, she believes that her end-of-summer business will help her make that decision.

Gray lives in Paynesville with her husband, Robin and their two kids, Bailey, 9, and Hudson, 5. She likes to decorate and make fun pieces out of flea market finds and being at the Liberty Market gives her time to work on her projects.



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