Fred’s Diner is exactly that kind of magical establishment. Nestled on a modest street corner in Akron, this small white building with its simple signage doesn’t scream “food paradise” to passersby.

Multiply that by a thousand and you’ve got Bussey’s Flea Market in Schertz, Texas – a sprawling wonderland where one person’s castoffs become another’s prized possessions. The moment you spot that ...