Thousands made their way to Malverne on Saturday for the annual village-wide garage sale. More than 160 homes were open for visitors to browse and purchase clothes, furniture, home goods, and collectible items.
The annual village-wide sale began in 2020, as people spent time cleaning during the Covid-19 lockdown. Malverne resident Rod Perry and his partner, Howard Zeitlin, saw the growing garbage collections the Department of Public Works picked up each week and had an idea.
Perry pitched then-mayor Keith Corbett on organizing a village-wide garage sale.
“This way everybody can put everything out for sale in one shot,” Perry said. “And then DPW could come around and pick up the trash without having to be bombarded every week, over and over again.”
An avid collector, Perry had attended many garage sales and shopped at some village-wide events before. “I thought it would be a good idea for a small village like Malverne,” he said.
With continuous approval from the village board, Perry has organized the annual garage sale for five years. The first year, 135 homes participated. On Sept. 27, more than 160 homes were involved.
“It’s also great for village businesses,” he said. People from across the tri-state area visit Malverne to see what’s for sale, and Perry ensures to invite them to stop by local stores and enjoy the village cafes. “All the shops have benefited.”
The village helps organize and promote participating houses, inviting residents to register for a $10 permit at Village Hall. Permitted houses are listed and mapped on the village website.
“Everybody looks forward to this event,” Perry said. “I’ve even had some people come to me asking if we could do it two times a year.” He looks forward to planning next year’s sale.
