PINSON – The sun was shining and the weather could not have been more perfect for the merchants and shoppers at Pinson Trade Days on Saturday, June 4.
Vendors ranged from the regular shops on Main Street — including Patti’s on Main Street, Celina’s Boutique, Barking Bee Coffee, and Price’s Ice Cream — to flea market type booths selling everything from fishing gear to toys and 3D printed art.
“It’s (success) is mainly because of Patti (Patti’s on Main Street),” vendor Steve Jett said. “She’s done a good job at promoting it; she’s encouraged people all along to come and try to help Pinson, the old community of Pinson down through here. She’s always had that attitude of helping out the city itself. She tries harder than anybody I know. She puts out a hard effort of trying to make the community grow.”
Patti, who had a lifelong career selling antiques in New York City, started Pinson Trade Days last November after requesting permission from the Pinson City Council.
“She said, ‘I really want to do something to revitalize Main Street,'” Tyre Purifoy of Tea Cakes Bakery said. “She went for it, and here we are today! It’s just fantastic.”
Patti has also invited former Pinson Valley High School football coach, Willie Adams Jr., who founded the football program at PVHS in 1969, to every Trade Days, and invited his former students and athletes to stop by and say hello.
“I want to keep him alive, his legend, because once the old-timers are gone, it’s not the same,” she said.
Adams said he began Pinson’s football program in 1969 and coached through 1974. After leaving for a while, he returned to help out with Pinson Valley athletics from 1981-84.
“When I took (the job), I had one rubber football that wouldn’t inflate,” Adams said. “No practice field, no dressing room, nothing. But I wanted it because I was raised here. I have a long time invested (in Pinson), and some of the best years of my life. I love this place.”
Adams’ wife, Carolyn, spoke highly of Patti’s efforts with Trade Days and her heart in helping the small community grow.
“I’m from another small town,” she said. “I think what Patti is doing here, to bring in this kind of stuff, hopefully to get our merchants more business, as well, I think it’s fantastic. I really do. We’ve been here since she started it; this is our third one, and we’re planning to be here next month and on.”
The next Pinson Trade Days will be July 2, 2022, and the theme will be Christmas in July. Trade Days runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month.