flea market has modest debut, shows big potential
UPDATE: The South Park Flea Market has moved to 11th and Figueroa. New hours are from 11:00am-4:00pm Sundays. Organizers, vendors and an eclectic cross-section of Downtown residents agree: Sunday’s first weekly South Park Flea Market was a monumental success.
The $2 entrance fee was waived for the first event day, and by 11:00 am, several hundred curious Downtowners had visited the 60 vendors that took up a quarter of the parking lot at 8th and Grand.
The event was lively, with kids chasing each other through merchant stalls, dogs socializing on leashes, and a DJ spinning near the entrance.
Staking Their Claim
Amy Ma of Cultured Club (pictured, left) was spotted enjoying the cool weather while selling her line of cute cake-inspired T-shirts. The Torrance resident felt turnout was sluggish at first, but picked up and remained steady throughout the day.
First-time vendor Stephen Hues, designer of “fun, sexy clothing,” felt he was doing fairly well moving his colorful fuzzy wigs, bright fur coats and Technicolor tie-around pants. “I’m pleased with the turnout. I’ll definitely be back next week,” Hues said confidently.
What’s Next?
Though most shoppers were thrilled to see much-needed weekend activity, some were expecting the expansive surface lot to be completely filled with merchants. However, we need to remember that these types of community events evolve organically.
“When I started the Fairfax market, we only had 40 vendors. Now it’s huge,” said Phillip Dane, referring to the popular Melrose Trading Post on Fairfax Avenue.
“Eventually we’ll have this whole parking lot filled. We have room for 400 vendors here.”
Any projections for next week’s market?
“It should grow a little each week. Next week’s turnout could be smaller, but it’s my job to make sure that it continues to get bigger,” Dane explains with a smile.
Food Is Key
One flea market necessity is a decent selection of food vendors. A lone barbeque stand feeding hungry onlookers was a start, but I hope to see the food options expanding with each week.
To help fill that niche, why not incorporate a farmers’ market to supplement the new flea market? That was the suggestion of gallerist and fellow blogger Bert Green, who noted that Downtown’s current farmers’ markets are mainly geared toward daily office workers and not round-the-clock residents. The suggestion makes a lot of sense and could help the flea market’s popularity grow more rapidly by appealing to a larger audience.
While we should stay patient about its growth into a true regional attraction, the message is clear: Our growing Downtown needs more neighborhood-driven events like this one.
South Park Flea Market
Northeast corner of 8th & Grand
Every Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, rain or shine!
southparkfleamarket.com
Take the subway to 7th/Metro Center Station.
More photos from the first weekly South Park Flea Market:
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17 comments
i was a little bummed by the number of vendors, but the crowd was decent and, i guess most importantly, the stuff being sold was interesting and varied. if there were more people attending, i think word would spread and more vendors would take the plunge. get behind this people!!
I picked up some great vinyl at great prices! Oh and some delicious cookies too.
I didn’t bring any money (I was on my Sunday morning bike ride), but the market looked good, there were a decent number of people there, and I think it has a bright future.
I agree about combining it with a farmer’s market…I thought there would be some produce because I do my produce shopping at Ralphs on weekends and they are rather pricey…
I only wish they would have scheduled this on a different day and time from the Fairfax flea market. If they would have it on Saturdays instead of Sundays, we could enjoy both! I’d think they would get more vendors and shoppers that way…
Interesting view, Foodeater. I generally agree with you, but I think that competing venues will encourage more vendors local to Downtown to come here.
I’d like to see some smaller Downtown/Northeast/Eastside artists show off their stuff at the Downtown market, and if Dane can wrestle a taco truck to make an appearance, I’d give up vegetarianism in a second.
So in my view, it’s less a “Fairfax Flea Market East” as it is a true Downtown-As-Center-of-the-Region market.
Phillip Dane no longer controls the Fairfax flea market. It’s a competing event this one should draw from a different region of the city. Eventually both will be able to flourish on the same day.
I went with a couple friends. There was a good selection of interesting items. I bought some delicicious flavored oils and spice blends from a couple vendors. Lots of handmade apparel & accessories.
A Farmers Market with fresh produce would make it perfect.
We need to support the market so it can keep the existing vendors, and draw more in the future. I plan on going every Sunday.
Rich, or better yet, a vegetarian friendly taco truck!
That’s a niche if I’ve ever heard it! Potato tacos, veggie fajitas and nopales?
Rich: check these guys out- Green Truck. They are primarily serving only the Culver City area for now, but hopefully the will expand to other areas soon… it’s not all tacos or Mexican food but it still seems like a fast food option dream come true!
I’m a vendor at the fairfax flea market and just found out about this place. This sounds really a cool place to be. Wish it was held on Saturdays instead on Sundays. I think more vendors would show.
I own a store nearby, and took a space as a vendor. We were very excited how good the turn out was, and think this is a perfect fit for Downtown. We have already booked as a regular, to show each week.
Hope all of downtown and neighboring communities will show up in force to support this , so it can grow. BEST OF LUCK>>>
I was a vendor there last week and I was generally please with the turnout…ESPECIALLY for a first event. All of my pieces moved really well. The vendor roster will grow and grow with time and word of mouth. I’m an eastside artist with a studio in Atwater Village and I am SO pleased that South Park flea market is in a central location! I’ll be there this Sunday, too. http://www.MuchaMuchacha.etsy.com
It was a real good VIBE market. I bought a couple of things including a FUZZY WUZY from Stephen Hues. His stuff is so psiquedelic I LOVED IT!!!
I’m glad people were buying the psychedelic fuzzy wuzzies. I’d love to see those around town. Honestly.
I would like to get in contact with someone to get vendor information.
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