PIKE COUNTY COLLECTIBLES: THE HOME OF GREAT DEALS AND UNEXPECTED TREASURES

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — You never know what you're going to find when you walk through the door at Pike County Collectibles in Pittsfield. But there's one thing you can pretty much count on: you're going to find something interesting, and you'll be dealing with a man who believes in treating people fairly.

And this weekend, there's an especially good reason to stop by. As Pittsfield welcomes visitors for Fall Pickin Days, owner Donnie Anstedt is getting in on the fun with special merchandise, special deals and extra weekend shopping opportunities.

Pike County Collectibles will be open during its regular Saturday hours, and Donnie will also open the store on Sunday, October 18, giving Fall Pickin Days shoppers another opportunity to browse, buy and discover something unexpected. Sunday opening hours have not been specified.

At first meeting, Donnie might strike you as a little gruff, perhaps even a bit grouchy. But spend a few minutes getting to know him, or simply watch him doing business, and a different picture quickly emerges. Behind that rugged exterior is a good, decent Christian man whose values are reflected in the way he treats his customers.

And fairness isn't just something you hear about at Pike County Collectibles. It's something you can see in action. Whether someone walks through the door hoping to sell a valuable possession or comes in looking for a bargain, Donnie approaches the transaction with a straightforward attitude and a commitment to making a fair deal for both sides.

The range of merchandise is remarkable. Gold, silver, jewelry and coins are just the beginning. Donnie also buys and sells antiques, collectible currency, musical instruments, firearms, knives and all sorts of unusual items that find their way into the store.

And then there are the things that don't fit neatly into any category: unusual collectibles, forgotten treasures and fascinating odds and ends that make you stop, take a second look and say, 'Oh, wow! Where did THAT come from?'

That's part of the fun of Pike County Collectibles. The store is constantly changing. People bring Donnie interesting items, and he purchases merchandise to resell. Something that wasn't there on your last visit might be sitting on a shelf today, and something you admire today might be gone tomorrow.

In many ways, it's almost like walking into a different store every time you visit. For collectors, there's the excitement of finding a special coin, antique or collectible. For musicians, there may be an instrument worth checking out. For bargain hunters, there's the possibility of discovering something useful, unusual or simply too good to pass up.

And for people who have something of value they'd like to sell, Pike County Collectibles offers the opportunity to deal face-to-face with a local businessman who has spent years building relationships in the community.

For this weekend's Fall Pickin Days celebration, Donnie has special merchandise and deals waiting for customers. Whether you're a regular visitor or someone discovering Pike County Collectibles for the first time, this weekend offers another opportunity to see what makes the store such an interesting place to shop.

But perhaps the most valuable thing about Pike County Collectibles isn't something sitting in a display case or hanging on a wall. It's the man behind the counter.

In an age when so much shopping and selling takes place online, there's something reassuring about doing business with someone you can look in the eye, ask questions and have a conversation with. Donnie's approach is a reminder that a handshake, a fair price and a person's word still mean something.

Pike County Collectibles isn't a polished chain store where everything looks the same from one visit to the next. It's a genuine hometown business, filled with personality, surprises and the kinds of things that make shopping locally an experience rather than just another transaction.

Whether you've got something to sell, something you're hoping to find or simply an appreciation for the unusual, it's worth stopping in and seeing what Donnie has in the store this weekend. Because at Pike County Collectibles, you never know what treasure might be waiting around the next corner.

Pike County Collectibles is located at 1271 West Washington Street in Pittsfield. Call 217-285-5058. Pike County Collectibles: The Home of Great Deals!