WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- Red Barn Flea Market, Antiques and More is filled with everything from antique furniture to Star Wars collectibles.
It's fueled by Nelda Brown's passion. "Junkin'," she laughed.
Brown built the business from her heart, six years ago, along Highway 77 in downtown Waxahachie. It is now home to 85 vendors who have booths in the building. "My life. My income, I just, I love working here," she said.
That's why her heart is breaking. Red Barn is one of six Waxahachie businesses that could be forced to shut down, thanks to a Texas Department of Transportation plan to replace an old bridge on Highway 77 and build a second bridge that runs parallel to it.
Brown said TXDOT initially told her they would only need three feet of her property, but have now filed for eminent domain to demolish all of it. "It hurts, hurts a lot," said Brown. "They're trying to destroy me. There's no care. They don't care how much you cry or beg. It doesn't matter."
Brown said TXDOT is offering far less than her mortgage.
Les Clemons is one of the vendors with a booth at Red Barn, called Country Junction. Working at his booth gives him an income and something to look forward to while he battles cancer.
"Well, what would I do? You know, there's not other places like this I'm close to," said Clemons.
"Devastated, we have put so much hard work into building a brand," said Elizabeth Voss, a vendor at Red Barn with a booth called "Treasure Tent."
A TXDOT spokesman says they're still finalizing plans and working with business owners to try to reduce the impact on them. Construction is set to begin in late 2019 or 2020.
While some businesses have already closed, Brown isn't leaving without a fight.
She's hired an attorney and has more than 2,600 signatures on a petition to leave her building intact.
"Start thinking about people's lives that you're messing with, have a heart," said Brown.