When shopping locally for the holidays, don’t forget about flea markets and antique stores. Find the perfect item to add to someone’s collection. Help someone start a collection.

Buy Christmas decor for less. Add a well-made antique to any room of any style for the perfect finish. Get extra chairs or a larger table and invite more guests to Christmas dinner.

“Apart from the variety in gifts, considering today’s inflation, I don’t know why holiday shoppers wouldn’t consider shopping here,” said Barbara Leger, Olde and Nu Treasures Marketplace co-owner.

“We also have new items that have never been opened, but not at “new” prices,” said Elano Devito, co-owner.

Olde and Nu Treasures, 716 E. Napoleon St. was still adding “Christmas” and discounting holiday themed items on Monday. The store has 25,000 square feet and 44 vendors.

In one corner was nothing but toys, including Barbies. Two children’s shopping carts, rustic and vintage decor, new socks, stained glass lamp, cookie jars, ornaments galore, rustic items great for yard decor such as antique tricycles stood out.

Cedar Chest Antiques, 201 Division St., is going out of business. All of its 20 vendors have slashed prices. Owners Rick and Ravenna Wilson came to Lake Charles to work in the casinos and decided to start Cedar Chest 13 years ago. He’s surprised at the popularity of vinyl, the latest trending best seller at Cedar Chest.

“I think the biggest advantage to shopping here for the holidays is the likelihood of finding something perfect for someone on your list that you will not find anywhere else and  likely never see again.”

Wilson said the thing he will miss most are the customers, the friends he’s made, the people who come in to shop on a regular basis and the big smiles they leave with when they find a little something they can’t live without.

“I’ve had some of my customers tell me that this is the thing they do for themselves to relax,” he said.

One of the intriguing items in the store is Langston Hughes’ book, “The Dream Keeper,” signed by Hughes himself. Wilson said he might have spoken at a 1945 graduation here and signed the book at that time.

Old telephone booths, an accordion, vintage tree ornaments, new pajamas and gowns from days gone by reminiscent of a Muller’s purchase never opened, a rattan lounger and plenty of funky kitsch stood out.

Recent Relics Antiques and Collectibles, 416 Broad St., Lake Charles, is a hobby for owner Marie Hannie. She tells how she got started in the business:  “My mother and father died seven weeks apart and left a silver set purchased in the Virgin Islands. I didn’t have anything to match it. My siblings didn’t want it, so I drilled holes in the bottom – it didn’t matter to me that it was sterling – and made a chime.”

In addition to chimes, Hannie creates steampunk pieces. It’s a style of design that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.

“Steampunk isn’t as popular here as it is in other areas,” she said.

The various doll pieces found in the store can be a bit disarming. Those are used in some of Hannie’s art. Her husband, Fred Hannie, does realistic fly-tying and is a watercolor artist. His work can be found at Relics, as well as Marie’s.

Don’t forget to visit the space behind the main shop. It has antique signage, garden decor, old wooden doors, corbels and architectural elements.

Hannie has stocked up on good quality, beautifully designed vintage and antique furnishings at great prices. Green depression glass, angel decor and topper, comic books, thimbles and salt and pepper shaker collection stood out.