Closing Bell: Round 2 of The Flea on Sunday
As we gear up for the second installment of the Brooklyn Flea this Sunday, here’s another look back at last week’s virgin voyage. The Flea will take place every Sunday—10 a.m. to 5 p.m. rain or shine—at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, on Lafayette Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbilt Avenues. Vendors…
As we gear up for the second installment of the Brooklyn Flea this Sunday, here’s another look back at last week’s virgin voyage. The Flea will take place every Sunday—10 a.m. to 5 p.m. rain or shine—at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, on Lafayette Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbilt Avenues. Vendors change from week to week, selling everything from vintage furniture, clothing and antiques to new designs by local makers of everything from jewelry to textiles. More information about the vendors and directions can be found here.
Nothing exists in a time warp except memories. The heyday of the Chelsea Flea was 20 years ago. Gas was way cheaper, salvage and most of the kinds of antiques sold there were not as popular to a general audience as they are now, ironically due to markets like Chelsea. How can you complain and expect prices to be as low as they were then? Do people expect vendors to be able to make a living at this? If a vendor has to go farther and farther afield to get cheap, funky and desirable goods, then that cost in time, gas, and other expenses has to be reflected in the selling price.
If you want a $50 couch, get in your car and head to Maine or someplace and find one. If you expect someone to go to all the trouble of doing it for you, expect to pay for that privilege. That’s just business 101.
If you didn’t see any bargains it’s because you didn’t look hard enough. We sold every piece of antique/vintage furniture we brought down except for one. For example 1940’s china cabinet $95.00, country chest of drawers made into coffee table $325.00, Country coffee table $90.00, art deco enamel topped table $325.00, the waterfall vanity was $130.00 (didn’t sell), custom made mirrors from salvage material sold from $42.00 to $68.00. A pair of antique French doors $300.00. Shall I go on. The people that bought those got a good price. The same prices I sell for up in Albany. Despite the myth, we don’t raise prices because we come to NYC, we bank on volume. So to all the complainers about variety and price stop down to our booth during our next visit Sunday April 27th and tell us we charge too much. Though there was not the volume of antique furniture you used to see at Chelsea, you need to be patient and let this evolve into the market you truly want. Your dollars will decide what sells and for how much. And I though NYC people were tough (I’m a transplanted New Yorker myself). It’s like cry baby city on this blog. Fred from Silver Fox
this was a great event in the neighborhood. everyone I ran into there from the area was thrilled, and we were all pleased with the nice range of items available, some old, some new, nice variations… so many people reminiscing about the now defunct chelsea market, which we obviously all miss sorely. but many of the people came from elsewhere – evidenced by the large groups of slightly confused people emerging onto the street a few moments after each train passed, making their ways to the flea.
we scored some great kids furniture, vintage, for much cheaper than I’ve found anywhere else….
if you believed the majority of posters on this site about any topic you’d have a pretty skewed view of just about everything.
Amazing! I grew up in that neighborhood, and every now and then stop by as I have family (owners) who live in the area. If you would have told me that in that flea market, in that section of BKLYN, you would find hardly any of the members of the darker nation there, i would not have believed you. WOW. Brooklyn light it is.
I agree with 6:01 — fabulous idea and look forward to more. I think it will bring a lot of vitality to a sleepy neighborhood.
i guess the only people that bother to write comments always whine?
i live a block away and i thought it was great. you guys act like he was setting a gang of rabid dogs loose in the neighborhood or sprinkling anthrax in your cornflakes.
stop complaining you whiners
-jelly donut
really, do we have to endure this again? did you consider the aggravation to the people that actually live in the immediate vicinty? huh? do you plan on cleaning up all the debris that is left in the wake of all these people? this is actually a neighborhood….not an industrial area like the fashion district was at one point or like hells kitchen is now? brownstoner, why is this not in your neighborhood? across from your house?
i was really disappointed that i couldn’t bring my dog with me. he loves coming to flea markets too. will this change?
Year-round? Even in the winter?