Coney Island Flea Market Upgrades Their Digs
July 12, 2009 by Lauren Fairbanks
One of our readers, Linda, shot us over these recent photos from the Coney Island Flea Market. As you can all see for yourselves, it looks far better than what we posted a few weeks back. Bright, colorful tents are now adorning the stale metal poles that were there before and they’ve signed up way more vendors to round the whole thing out. We gotta say, it looks pretty darn good.
Jeffrey Wilson and I will be heading back out to Coney Island next week to see it for ourselves, in all its newly born glory. We’ll check out the vendors and come back with some more info on who’s there, what they’re selling and pinpoint out some good deals for you guys.
Check out the updated photos below:
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Obviously these photos were taken July 4th – Holiday- weekend. The Flea market is not like this – I’m in Coney 4-5 days a week including weekends and this past weekend – only one side was open – and about 40% full. The E side of Sitt land is currently floaded and can not be used. This is f a frequent happening. Just to mention that some of the items vendors are selling are not properly licensensed as well as we have found a few buying things form our Sovinour Shops ( The Beach Shop & Tommy’s) then reselling thru the Flea market. If you wnat a real “Coney Island Souvinour please buy from the Beach Shop or Tommy’s – the true Coney Island Shops that are licensensed to sell.
The items sold are not much differnt than going to Canal street – They have t-shirts, purses, dresses sunlgasses, lil bits of jewelry , cell phone holders – coffee mugs (all trourist NY things) a few food vendors – pickles, gyro’s, cakes etc. They also have flower baskets – and a few hand made items for decorations – nick nacks , don’t forget the CD’s & movies etc.
After July 4th the summer in Coney thins out a bit – the flea market is suppose to remain till Labor Day Weekend, but we will see.
@Rubys Host — Thanks for the info. I’ll be in Coney Island this weekend to check it out for myself. It almost seemed too good to be true, but in all honesty, it looks far better than it did a few weeks ago when I was there last.
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These pictures were taken on Saturday June 27 by me and it certainly was very crowded. On July 4th weekend both sides of Stillwell Avenue were open, 4 tents in all, so I’m not sure why you are saying they weren’t. All I can say is anyone interested in this flea market should go and check it out themselves.
@Rubys Host – I had to post a reply myself after reading your last post. Not only were those pictures not taken on July 4th, but July 4th was my slowest day! I have been selling cupcakes and I have sold out every single weekend. I have never been able to do a Sunday because I just couldnt physically bake enough to meet the demands. I actually just bought larger cupcake trays so that hopefully this weekend I can participate on Sunday.
If you have any doubts, please check my blog. I update it regularly and it’s all dated. I have several pics up as well as stories about each weekend. Also, there is no more flooding. The E side was the main side on July 4th.
As for people selling stuff from local stores, I have yet to see anything “Coney Island”. I agree that there are A LOT of jewlery vendors and a lot of T-Shirt people, but a lot of people have some unique items at decent prices.
If for nothing else… come by for a cupcake! LOL
I work in Coney and for the past few seasons have been documenting property owner Thor Equities’ emptying out and degradation of the amusement area inclduing the flea market. Lots of pix in my flickr set called “Thorland” and on my blog.
Thor Equities self-described “Festival by the Sea: A Uniquely Entertaining & Amusing Marketplace” is a desecration of Coney Island’s C-7 amusement zone. The “entertainment” consists of a band playing two sets. So I guess this makes the flea legal in the C-7 amusement district? Loophole in the law or flagrant violation? Unfortunately, the City does not enforce its zoning laws. In March Joe Sitt’s newly registered to do biz in NY State Delaware LLC “Chart Development Company” successfully applied for a DOB permit for a “temporary fair” after an earlier app for a “flea market” was disapproved.
This property is where amusements such as batting cages, go karts, bumper boats, climbing wall and mini golf thrived until Thor CEO Joe Sitt bulldozed them in 2007 to do “site prep work” for future development though NOTHING permanent can be built until the rezoning is done. At the time Sitt expected to quickly get persmission from the City to build high rises and a shopping mall. When the City’s EDC looked at his plans, they called it “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” This historic property is also the former home of Stauch’s Baths and Dance Hall, the Tornado Roller coaster and the Bobsled ride.
Why should you care when you just want to do a little shopping? The Bloomberg administration and the City Council are negotiating the future zoning with Thor Equities. The City Council will vote on the plan this month. Please be an educated consumer and a good citizen. For more info visit http://www.saveconeyisland.net/
I had to post an update…
The prices have gone up to rent a space so the vendors have disappeared. As soon as they announced the new prices I knew there was no way I could continue to sell my cupcakes, so I bowed out.
I took a ride down today to see how many vendors there were and in total… maybe 25. And to make matters even worse, apparently last weekend they passed out flyers with new lower prices and today the vendors were told that those prices are not being honored and it’s an additional $300+!
So, it was great for about a month. It really was. It was packed with vendors and shoppers alike. Most vendors today agreed that they will no longer come back.
Not it is officially not worth your time!
Oh well, I guess it had its run. Too bad, though, since Coney Island could really benefit from something like that.