Rusty Relics: Where Texarkana’s Stories Are Saved, Salvaged, and Shared

by: Michelle Horton

On any given Saturday in Texarkana, you will find neighbors wandering flea markets, sipping coffee, swapping stories, and hoping—quietly—that today might be the day they stumble upon something special. Not something shiny or new, but something familiar. Something that feels like home.

That feeling lives at Rusty Relics, tucked inside the historic Bunch Garden building on Baylor Street. What was once a place filled with plants, wagging tails and childhood memories has been reborn as a space where the past is honored, creativity thrives, and stories—old and new—find a place to belong. Owned and operated by James and Amy Mauldin, along with daughter, Chloe Norwood, Rusty Relics is more than a flea market. It is a family dream years in the making, built on weekends spent searching for treasures, a love of craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for the stories objects carry.

From Weekend Treasure Hunts to a Family Dream

Long before Rusty Relics had a permanent address, it lived in the form of flea market booths and weekend road trips. For years, the Mauldin family spent their free time doing what many treasure hunters love most—scouring estate sales, flea markets, and dusty corners of barns, not just for items to resell, but for pieces that spoke to them.

Those trips were not about profit. They were about joy. “Flea marketing was our happy place,” Amy explains. It was where the family slowed down and laughed together. One of the most remarkable treasure hunts came when Chloe discovered a dream piece of furniture that was originally given as a wedding gift in 1889. Amy says, “This piece has been bringing joy for over a hundred years and will continue to bring smiles to faces well into the future. These older pieces are often made better and with beautiful craftsmanship that is not as common in modern pieces.” More than a century later, it continues to bring joy—proof that well-made things, and the stories behind them, endure.

These trips also allowed the family to dream out loud about what could be. Over time, those dreams became more focused. What if they could create a space of their own? A place where others could experience that same thrill of discovery?

That dream eventually led them to open Rusty Relics—a market centered on antiques, salvaged and repurposed furniture, décor, gifts, and collectibles—each chosen not for trends, but for character.

The name Rusty Relics began, like many good things, as a joke. James casually referred to their booth by several names over the years, but one stuck. While not everything they sell is rusty, the name reflects their shared vision: giving older pieces new life.

A relic, after all, is something worth keeping.

When the opportunity came to open a full market, there was no question about the name. Rusty Relics already represented who they were and what they loved—honoring the beauty of age and history.

A Love for Old Things, Passed Down

James’s appreciation for antiques did not start in adulthood. It was cultivated early, thanks to his parents—particularly his mother, Betty. Her home was filled with vintage, salvaged, and primitive pieces long before it was fashionable. She had an eye for seeing potential where others saw “junk,” often turning forgotten items into statement pieces that sparked conversation.

That influence stuck.

At first, Amy admits, James’s finds did not always make sense. “He would bring things home that we called ‘junk,’” she laughs. However, over time, something shifted. Those items began to grow on them. Then they began seeking them out themselves.

Each family member now brings a unique aesthetic to Rusty Relics—James, drawn to signs and thermometers, Amy and Chloe gravitating toward furniture and vintage home décor. Together, their tastes create a balanced and inviting mix that appeals to a wide range of shoppers.

Why History Matters in a Mass-Produced World

In an age when homes are often filled with identical furniture and décor shipped overnight, Rusty Relics offers something increasingly rare: originality.

People are drawn to pieces with history because they stand apart. They tell stories. They make a home feel curated rather than copied. Many customers walk through the doors and immediately recognize something from their childhood—a lamp like their grandmother’s, a toy they once cherished, a dish pattern they remember from family dinners. Those moments are powerful. Faces light up. Stories spill out at the checkout counter.

A Market of Many Stories

One of the most unique aspects of Rusty Relics is its vendor-driven design. Each booth is its own mini shop, filled with the personality, creativity, and vision of its owner. The result is an ever-changing landscape where no two visits are the same.

You never know what is around the next corner—and that is precisely the point. This unpredictability is what sets flea markets apart from big-box stores. Many customers arrive without a shopping list, simply saying, “I will know it when I see it.” And often, they do.

Ask where the items come from, and the answer is everywhere. Estate sales. Barns. Flea markets across state lines. Even vacations are not safe from detours. With so many vendors contributing, items arrive at Rusty Relics from countless places—each journey ending when the right person finds it and takes it home.

The Joy of a Growing Community

Perhaps the most rewarding part of running Rusty Relics has been the people. The encouragement. The word-of-mouth support. The growing “flea market family” that keeps the doors open and the dream alive.

Rusty Relics has carved out its place through warmth, authenticity, and genuine connection. Customers return not just to shop, but to visit.

In true community spirit, James, Amy, and Chloe appreciate those who shop local and spread the word. “We appreciate those who share our location with family and friends. Shopping local and shopping flea markets helps so many people since each market houses many different vendors. Texarkana has so many great flea markets and vintage shopping opportunities, and we encourage everyone to check them all out. If you stop by our market, you will find maps at the front counter with names and addresses of other local shops to check out. Perhaps there may be another location on the list that you have not yet discovered,” Amy says.

Advice for the Curious Collector

For those wanting to dip a toe into vintage or repurposed décor, the advice is simple: visit often. Let inspiration find you. Ask questions. Be open.

Rusty Relics is not just a place to buy—it is a place to learn, imagine, and create. They welcome collectors, first-time homeowners, wedding decorators, gift shoppers, outdoors people, DIY upcyclers, and even people inspired by something they saw on Facebook.

One of the greatest joys for the family is seeing what customers do with their finds—whether it is a restored piece of furniture, a flipped treasure, or décor used in a wedding filled with meaning.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

The goal for the future is refreshingly simple: continue offering items people love. Continue watching faces light up. Continue growing together.

The family is deeply grateful—not just for the business, but for the journey. As Amy reflects, a sign hanging above the front door says it best: “I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.”

In a town rich with history, Rusty Relics reminds us that the past is not something to outgrow—it is something to cherish. Sometimes, all it takes to feel connected is walking through a door, finding a familiar piece, and realizing its story now gets to continue with you.

So the next time you are out and about in Texarkana, ask yourself: What story are you hoping to find?

You just might find it waiting at Rusty Relics.