Brownstoner to Launch Weekly Flea Market Next Spring
Back in the mid-90s, we were completely addicted to the 26th Street flea markets in Manhattan. As they were gradually displaced, lot by lot, by the high-rises that now line Sixth Avenue in Chelsea, one of the most interesting slices of city life died. Now, Manhattan is too expensive and, frankly, soulless to recreate anything…
Back in the mid-90s, we were completely addicted to the 26th Street flea markets in Manhattan. As they were gradually displaced, lot by lot, by the high-rises that now line Sixth Avenue in Chelsea, one of the most interesting slices of city life died. Now, Manhattan is too expensive and, frankly, soulless to recreate anything like that. Brooklyn, in contrast, is the ideal place, in our opinion, to nurture such a scene. With no disrespect meant to the flea market on 7th Avenue in Park Slope, however, there’s certainly nothing currently in the borough that comes close to what 26th Street used to be in either scale or vibrancy. So we’re going to try to create it.
With the great help of Council Member Tish James, we’ve worked out an arrangement with the head of the Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene to use its gigantic schoolyard on Sundays starting next spring to host a weekly flea market. (We’re talking about 40,000 square feet of space—check out the photo on the jump.) The lot itself is located on Lafayette Avenue between Clermont and Vanderbilt, walking distance from Boerum Hill, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and Bed Stuy and just a short bike ride away from Williamsburg, Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights. (Sorry if we left your ‘hood out, but you get the idea.) We also like the fact that it’s just a block up from the flourishing restaurant scene on Dekalb, making for a nice destination outing for folks from farther afield.
Although the flea market won’t open until early April, we’ve set up a web site at BrooklynFlea.com where vendors can indicate preliminary interest (update: the registration is working now) and anyone can send in questions and comments. We’ve got plenty of time to plan things, so we’re hoping for lots of reader input. One thing we’re considering, for example, is having some kind of local and organic food court in addition to the antiques, vintage watch and vinyl record dealers. So let us know what you’d like to see by emailing us at flea@brownstoner.com—and please pass this along to anyone you know who might be a potential vendor. We’ve got booths of all shapes and sizes to accommodate everything from the person who knits hats as a hobby to a large architectural salvage dealer.
Thanks and look forward to your input.
Mr. B
I believe the proceeds are going to be used to pay for the expansion of Mr. Butler’s residence to fit his swelling ego.
I too miss the 26th Street markets and love this idea.
I am very excited about this idea. I live down the street from this school and it would be an excellent location. As much as I enjoy cheap things, I agree with most of the posts requesting no tube socks and other crap! I would love some organic food, fresh cut flowers, etc.
In its heyday, the 24th/26th Street Fleamarket was THE place to get both interesting merchandise and a bargain. People shopped for everything from vintage ball gowns, Victorian button shoes, Danish modern furniture, Chinese chairs to Waterford crystal and dusty plastic bags of vintage trims and notions. You never knew what you would find – a cool piece of silverware, a 50’s brooch, the Beatles White Album, or an African sculpture. It was fun, and a great way to spend a day. To this day, in decorating magazines and books, someone will tell of getting some fabulous, or fabulously awful piece at the 26th St Market. It was one of the most successful and popular destinations in New York, and rivaled the great flea markets like Portabello Road, in London. The building up of 6th Ave caused moving the market to other lots or buildings, and it just wasn’t the same, or successful. Plus the prices started to hit the ceiling for everything. There’s nothing worse than success to spoil a good thing, or higher overhead.
All that to say, if the Brooklyn Flea can recapture the fun, trash to treasure adventure that was the 26th St. Market, it will be a great success. That means no tube socks or Chanel knock-offs. That’s not snobbery or lack of affordable goods, those goods are just a whole different kind of flea market.
I don’t want to see just hugely overpriced salvage, because that won’t sell to a large amount of people, and the fair will fail. With this huge space, there is room for all kinds of merchandise in a true Brimfield/old 26th St. kind of way. Bring it on!
Amy is apparently a woman who doesn’t appreciate a pair of fresh sneakers.
Hey Amy,
Almost everything is sold at Fulton Mall, how can you call it all crap. Just because you don’t shop there, doesn’t make the merchandise crap.
I have a feeling from the comments here that there won’t be anything at this flea market I would want to buy (at least for the prices offered). I sense a lot of antique (ie old, poor condition) furniture and way-overpriced chotkes. Hopefully the vinyl is cheap.
Sorry iluvclintonhill, but I couldn’t disagree with you more. Anything approaching the kind of crap sold in the Fulton Mall and most of the street fairs would be a blight on the neighborhood. But luckily, with Mr. B. in charge, we won’t have anything to worry about.
Amy
No funnel cakes? Wait a minute, what’s wrong with funnel cakes????
BTW Brenda, would the Chinese guy be wearing the tube socks and eating the funnel cake, or would you be? Either way, I’m sure there’s already a website for that particular fetish.
🙂
Amy
As long as a vendor is licensed and legal, he should be allowed to sell his wares and participate. If you dont want to buy tube socks,cellphone holders or so called junk, then keep it moving.Noone is holding a gun to your head but why should you dictate whether somebody who might patronize these vendors isnt given the chance to.And whether you like it or not, people patronized Fulton Mall making it very successful and profitable for the owners.So get over yourselves. This is Brooklyn,take that attitude somewhere else.