Closing Bell: Outdoor Flea + Indoor Holiday Market
While we could have used some better weather last Sunday, the kick-off of The Flea’s Gifted holiday market went off without a hitch; this Sunday, once again, we’ll have close to 50 vendors inside the Masonic Temple (above), directly across the street from the outdoor flea market that continues through December 21. For details on…
While we could have used some better weather last Sunday, the kick-off of The Flea’s Gifted holiday market went off without a hitch; this Sunday, once again, we’ll have close to 50 vendors inside the Masonic Temple (above), directly across the street from the outdoor flea market that continues through December 21. For details on Gifted vendors, click here. Meanwhile, at The Flea proper, there’s still plenty going on, so come by for a pupusa or a hot chocolate while you browse everything from vintage clothing to antique furniture to new and old jewelry.
The Brooklyn Flea is held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 176 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn; no bikes or dogs allowed in the market. Closest trains are the C and G to Washington/Clinton. You can also take any of the number of trains that go to Atlantic Station and walk up Lafayette Avenue from there. For more info, check out the Flea Blog.
I wasn’t stifling. Merely just expressing concern I rarely see expressed when it comes to open air markets, flea markets, etc. Personally I’m thrifty at heart but many people I know are local business owners and things like Brooklyn Flea and Gifted can be both good and bad. Overhead, especially in NYC, is a big concern. People have only so many dollars to spend at the holiday season which is the season that often makes or breaks small businesses. Of course, unlike you suggest, I wouldn’t want to see something like Flea or Gifted disappear. They are wonderful for their neighborhood. But I do know how draining they can be on small businesses foot traffic on a Saturday or Sunday if everyone is at them. Small businesses are constantly trying to broaden and expand their business model but that takes money to do and without the expected expenditures in their establishments by residents in the community they can’t do it.
Read comments thoroughly for timbre and intent before jumping to conclusions. You comment enough on this site to know that.
I actually think that the Brooklyn Flea has brought many new people to that neighborhood and probably INCREASED traffic at local businesses.
We live in a capitalist society which considers competition a good thing. If local businesses want to attract customers, they should do things to broaden and expand their business model.
We should not be suggesting to stifle competition, especially when it’s something that has been an incredible addition to this area.
I feel bad for the local business owners who won’t do as much business this season because of weekly events like Gifted. It’s great to get merchandise straight from the source but it is a bit destructive to commerce in these hard times for business owners who have overhead to consider.
Damn, those vendors are extremely brave. It is freezing out there!
tybur6
You know why the Flea keeps going?
BECAUSE ITS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!
Yay!
The Flea is awesome and the food is especially tasty.
tybur6 doesn’t know squat about the Flea!
OH MY LORD!!!! There’s NO FREAKIN’ END to this Flea… I mean, seriously. Can’t the Brooklyn Flea just end already. What will you have in January? The Winter Flea for No Reason event… Only 4 weeks!
Take a nap already.
BINGO!