BY NANCY HILLER

Lovers of antiques and collectibles have a new place to hunt for treasure: the Westbury Antique Market, located on West Arlington Road just west of Ind. 37. The market occupies 22,000 square feet on two floors housing 120 booths of antique wares plus 48 display cases filled with jewelry, ceramics, coin collections, and other small items.

The space is modern, clean, and brightly lit, with broad aisles between the rows of booths. Furniture offerings range from rustic through Victorian to midcentury modern. Some vendors sell architectural salvage, such as old wooden doors and stained glass windows. Others feature antique tools, books, records, Fiestaware, vintage glass, kitsch salt and pepper shakers, and much more. Pottery collectors will find selections of Roseville and Hull ceramics. And this is just on the main floor; downstairs is another 11,000-square-feet with artisans such as silversmiths, potters, and woodworkers.

The market is the product of a collaboration by four local business people. Terry and Lillie Cockerham have been involved with the Westbury property since its initial development in the late 1970s, when they opened Terry’s Banquets and Catering in one of the site’s five buildings. For many years, Ivy Tech Community College leased the other four structures, but when Ivy Tech moved its main campus to Daniels Way, those buildings were left vacant and fell into deep disrepair without electricity, heat, or air conditioning. For Bloomington contractor Stephen Rumple, “deep disrepair” meant opportunity. In the spring of 2013, Rumple and his wife, Kim, decided to partner with the Cockerhams to purchase and rehabilitate the four buildings, turning the first one into the antique market.

The partners credit their consultant-cum-advertising-and-events-coordinator, John Baker, with helping to develop the market. “We knew nothing about starting an antiques business,” says Rumple. Baker has over 30 years’ experience in the antique mall business. A friend of the partners, Donetta Willibey, helped recruit many of the vendors and leased a booth herself.

The Westbury Antique Market is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from noon to 5 pm.