Flea Market Slideshow

Flea Markets Experience Surge of Customers

Flea markets in New York City are currently entering into their heyday of business as people search for alternate means to buy what they need at cheap prices.

            Even on a national scale, flea markets are experiencing an influx of customers. “Flea markets have gone leaps and bounds partly because of the economy we are in right now. People are trying to get buyers and sellers together in a cheap way. An open space tends to accomplish that,” said Mark Blakewood, the executive director of the National Flea Market Association.

With the economy causing layoffs and forcing people to find any extra ways to save money, people are turning to flea markets for shopping opportunities and for extra income.

            “People are not as opulent in their acquisitions. People are not buying new furniture to furnish apartments. Instead they make do by going to flea markets to buy the furniture,” said Alan Boss, founder of the Annex Antiques Fair & Flea Market, a collection of flea markets that includes Hell Kitchen’s Flea Market and the Antiques Garage.

            Now flea markets are experiencing more participation of vendors and more activity by buyers, according to Boss.

“We are doing better than last year when the economy was doing well and people thought their jobs would last forever,” said Judy Gehrke, managing director of GreenFlea, a flea market located on Columbus Avenue between West 76^th and 77^th Streets.

            “The economy of flea markets runs counter cyclical to the economy. When the economy is booming, flea markets are not as successful as when the economy is suffering,” Gehrke said.

            Nanako Miller would have to agree. Miller, who sells boutique-style clothing that she designs herself, has been selling at GreenFlea for the past year.

“I was very skeptical at first,” Miller said. “I had the impression that flea markets were where old people bought antiques.” But after working with wholesalers, Miller decided to eliminate the middleman and go into business herself by selling her designs at flea markets.

            Starting her business before the major economic downturn, Miller has not felt the effects of the recession. “People have stopped buying expensive clothes from boutiques. I provide boutique-quality clothing but at cheaper prices at flea markets and street fairs,” she said.

Customers flock to flea markets to find these great deals. “Now with the declining economy, discounts and thrift prices that flea markets offer add extra appeal for people,” said Sula Haska, a teacher for adults receiving their GEDs. “I usually hate to shop, but something about flea markets draws me in,” Haska said as she tried on a five-dollar red silk shirt at The Store With No Walls in Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market.

            “I come here every weekend. They have the best and lowest prices. Where else can I find a beautiful shirt for five dollars?” she said.