Charlotte’s Central Flea Market Reopening In Temporary Location
If you’re a weekend treasure hunter, then you probably know all about the saga of the Central Flea Market in East Charlotte. If not, here’s the story:
The outdoor Central Flea Market had been operating on the Central Avenue site of the former Eastland Mall until the city shut it down in February to make way for redevelopment. In 2020, Charlotte City Council approved a plan to turn that 80-acre property into a mixed-use concept with housing units, retail businesses, and a park. The city bought the old mall site back in 2012.
So what about the flea market? According to the Charlotte Observer, vendors from the market say the city did not keep its promise to help them find a new location. However, on Wednesday (7/13), Charlotte Councilman Tariq Bokhari announced that he had helped secure a temporary site for the market in uptown Charlotte.
This Saturday (7/16) only, the flea market will be held on a couple of parking lots between 6th and 9th streets and between Brevard and Caldwell streets. Those lots are close to the Spectrum Center and First Ward Park. Bokhari said the space should be big enough for all 150 vendors who had been at the Central Avenue site. The flea market will be open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The temporary flea market location will be free for vendors. Spaces will be open on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 7:00 AM. If you’d like to register for a vendor space, you can sign up HERE.
Councilman Bokhari thinks the city is just a few weeks away from securing a permanent location for the flea market. In the meantime, Bokhari and his partners will seek to find temporary locations every weekend until the permanent site is ready.
