Hakaar's Bazaar
Written by Emi Jackson
Photos of Ashley Finke, Emi Jackson, Hal Lueking, and Taylor Medlock photographed by Nia Harrison.
Looking for a worthwhile stop here in Springfield? Check out Hakaar’s Bazaar at 217 W Commercial Street, a retro vintage shop specializing in rare furniture, home goods, and vintage clothing ranging from the 1950s to 1970s.
Lauren Cross and her husband Vinny opened Hakaar’s Bazaar in 2014. The name Hakaar’s Bazaar has an unusual background. Hakaar is a mythical creature, an octopus, which became their mascot. Bazaar is a marketplace. It truly captures the uniqueness of this store which offers a variety of products.
“When we first opened, it was pretty much anything vintage, anything old. So then that transpired to anything from the 50’s to 70’s, and then the 80’s and 90’s as that gets to be more vintage.”
When the Cross couple envisioned their ideal small business, they saw a welcoming, homey environment that they could raise their kids in.
Running a business like this takes a lot of work, and this couple does it all on their own.
“Most people think it’s super fun– ‘Oh it must be so cool to do that!’– Yes, it’s cool, but typically most stores have vendors, where they have booths and consignment… Everything is literally handpicked by my husband and me.”
They travel anywhere within a 13-hour radius of Missouri to pick out the fabulous vintage pieces you see in store.
Cross recently launched Deep Grove Candle Co. It specializes in affordable, non-toxic scents that include ingredients like soy and cotton core wicks.
“I have a thyroid disease, so makeup, hair products, candles–they are so toxic and I don’t want to burn something around myself or my family that is going to be burning our health.”
Hakaar’s Bazaar has a very warm and inviting feel to it. You can feel Lauren and Vinny’s passion for what they do when visiting. There is something for everyone there.
“[I love] people coming in and digging it so much, and that fills me up.”
Hakaar’s Bazaar is open 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. To keep up with their newest product, follow their Instagram @hakaarsbazaar.