“Better Than a Garage Sale…It’s the Whole House!” By Liz Orozco
Moving Sale store front display of garage sale items.
It’s a beautiful sunny day in San Francisco as I’m walking down Howard Street taking notice of what seems to be a furniture liquidation sale.
I look on as a man cautiously carries and pushes out several items to display on the sidewalk–clearly a strategy that works to allure passers-by. Dressers, tables, and chairs are the most common items that can be found between the heep of assortments that fill the entire garage.
Within ten minutes of opening, three people stop mid-stride to check out a small cherry wood dresser placed off to the side of the garage entrance, yet no one buys into the $50 price tag.
My curiosity peaks when I behold the massive collection of things that cover the entirety of the walls in the garage from the ground up. Books, carpets, old wall clocks, paintings, chandeliers, a disco ball – a skateboard even– were a part of the random inventory.
Jesus Rodriguez, a resident of San Francisco stops by in search of lucky finds.
I decide to go inside looking for the seller when I hear someone rummaging through the clutter from behind a stack of boxes saying that it will be just a few moments.
Wearing a blue button-up paired with black jeans, Mark Swenson, Moving Sale owner, seems like an ordinary guy. He definitely did not fulfill my delusion as the neighborhood’s senile-old-war veteran who is fond of collectables.
“I have no clue– thousands– a lot and it changes all the time!,” said Swenson when asked about totality of the colossal collection.
At the time when Swenson began collecting items he would go out at night and pick-up them off the streets of San Francisco. He would frequent storage locker auctions and he also accepted donations.
Mark Swenson, Moving Sale owner checks out the inventory.
Swenson greets me and smiles warmly giving the OK to indulge myself with the space and all the garage sale treasures. Jack, his black cat navigates through the open narrow clearing leading into the depths of the garage as I make my way through out.
Swenson rearranges to clear the narrow pathway
“It’s a mix [of people], it’s very eclectic and it spans the entire income level spectrum… I get people from all over, ” said Swenson attempting to describe the diverse customer base.
Howard is a main corridor for residents coming in and out of the city through the 101 freeway. Operated for over ten years at two different locations on Howard Street– his original regulars still come-by.
I start to probe about his past, I wondered just how a garage sale business open five days a week was indeed sustainable.
Swenson rearranges furniture to clear the narrow passage way.
“I hated going to goodwill and things like that as a kid, I thought it was awful,” said Swenson cheerfully laughing about his past feelings towards used goods.
A 1950s style phone booth- Swenson’s “favorite thing.”
Before opening his business in 1998, Swenson worked at the Union Square Macy’s as a sales associate in the shirt’s and tie department.
He unfortunately slipped on a shopping bag behind the counter and sustained a knee injury that needed surgery. He was unemployed for six months.
During the course of his unemployment Swenson began collecting and refinishing furniture in his spare time. The collection of items eventually swelled and he decided to have a garage sale every Friday.
“I was making more money having garage sales on Friday than all week at Macy’s,” said Swenson and he has been in business ever since.
Swenson enjoying the afternoon sun
“It is an all time consuming job, but I love what I do,” said Swenson as we concluded our interview.
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