"It's not really work, it's fun," Somewhere In Time Antiques & More owner Travis Thomas said of his job. "I love it!"
Twenty years ago, Thomas began selling items at flea markets and antique stores and has worked his way to the top by now owning his own store.
In Aug. 2011, Thomas went to work for Roger Hogg when Somewhere In Time was located at the old Hancock Fabrics location.
After a year of working with Hogg, Thomas said he "asked the right questions at the right time," and was offered to take over the store.
"I took over the store on my one year anniversary," Thomas said of a moment he will never forget.
Fast forward to March of this year and Thomas, along with the help of his son, Chris, began renovations for the store's current location at 1901 Sunset Drive.
Beginning the move on March 1, Thomas said he scheduled his Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for April 1.
"Steve (Halter) from the Chamber asked me if I was sure I wanted to have a ribbon cutting in just one month," Thomas recalled.
After working his full-time job, Chris came to the store in the evenings and most weekends to work on the renovations.
As promised, the father/son team had the store ready to cut their ribbon one month later.
"We tripled the size of the store," Thomas said. "We went from 6,000 square feet to 15,000 and have well over 100 vendors."
While browsing Somewhere In Time, antique to new items can be found throughout the store.
Most popular, according to Thomas, includes military and sports memorabilia.
"Our number one seller is furniture," Thomas said. "Everyone loves the painted furniture."
As a suggestion from customers, Thomas said the store has recently began selling more primitive pieces, which are selling well.
Taking pride in customer service, Thomas said he and his vendors receive requests from time to time for items by contacting the store at 573-778-1010.
For example, a lady called Thomas with a description of a bed she was looking to purchase from her childhood.
"Off just a description, we had the bed within 24 hours," Thomas said. "She told me it was perfect. We have the best vendors who always take care of the customers."
Thomas is a firm believer in family first, so it's only fitting Somewhere In Time is a family run business. Along with Chris, Thomas has the help of his mother, Fran, father, Don, and a friend "who is like a sister," Lori Quinton.
Staying with the family theme, Thomas said the store gears events towards families throughout the year.
Most recently, Somewhere In Time hosted their Fall Festival as the first event at their new location. In addition, about every other month during the summer, the parking lot of the business can be found full of vendors who are allowed to set up for free.
Somewhere In Time will be holding their Christmas Open House full of fun events and giveaways Saturday, Nov. 11. One of the giveaways will include a Schwinn wagon filled with toys.
King's Corner Cafe opened inside the store May 13 to offer hungry shoppers a place to sit and have a bite to eat.
Owner Jenny King worked as a vendor at the store's previous location and approached Thomas about the cafe reopening.
After meeting together, it was decided King would reopen the cafe full of homecooked meals and a bakery.
Also joining King's Corner Cafe in the store's building include Laymon's Collectibles and Deb's Diamonds & More.
"We all work well together," Thomas said of the four businesses.
In feedback from customers, Thomas said he has been told Somewhere In Time differs from other flea markets with their regularly changing merchandise and atmosphere.
"We have a wide variety of items from new and old and everything in between," Thomas said. "The merchandise changes almost daily."
To keep up with the ever changing merchandise at Somewhere In Time, Thomas said many new items are posted on the Facebook page as they are received.
Somewhere In Time is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and only closed three days throughout the year: Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Reflecting after five years of owning his first store, Thomas said he is still doing a job he loves.
"It has been a journey," he said.