History of the Village-Wide Garage Sale Weekend

In 1991, Tom & Mary Zander delivered a real estate newsletter to over 5,000 central Mount Prospect homes. In 1993, a resident commented on how much she enjoyed visiting group/neighborhood garage sales around the northwest suburbs. She suggested that our Real Estate newsletter would be a great vehicle through which to organize a similar sale in Mount Prospect. We proposed the idea in the next issue, residents quickly signed up to participate with 110 homes participating that first year. We have been organizing the annual group garage sale ever since.
What started as a small neighborhood garage sale has now blossomed into a major community event, still managed by Tom & Mary Zander for 30+ years, now with Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate of Mount Prospect, The garage sale weekend now includes the entire village of Mount Prospect. Each participating homeowner holds their own garage sale just as they would at any other time of year. The difference is that thousands of shoppers are attracted to this large group sale, said to be the largest of its kind in Illinois.
This year’s Garage Sale Weekend will take place on May 17-19, 2024 (Fri.-Sun.). The hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to dusk. The bright orange “Mount Prospect Garage Sale” signs will be visible throughout Mount Prospect.
The online map automatically updates every 48 hours showing the recent registrants planning to participate. Not only will it show concentrations of garage sales, but it will also show specific blocks that may only have one garage sale—a potential goldmine. Printed maps will also be available at Berkshire Hathaway Starck Real Estate of Mount Prospect and other Mount Prospect locations the entire weekend of the sale.