Fairgrounds Flea Market to close?

[RecycleMichael]

Here is what channel six is saying...

http://www.kotv.com/news/topstory/?id=140411

Flea Market May Be Forced To Close
KOTV - 11/24/2007

Another long-time resident of the Tulsa County Fairgrounds may be on the way out. Owners of the Tulsa Flea Market say they have until the end of February to find a new home or they'll be forced to close after 35 years. The Tulsa Flea Market has operated non-stop at the fairgrounds since 1972, all by the same family. The News On 6's Dan Bewley reports that county officials say the flea market is costing the county money, and that has the flea market's owners worried they may join the likes of Bell's and the Tulsa Drillers.

It's been called Tulsa's best kept secret - a place where toys are three for a dollar and decorative ceramics wait for a new home. Buck Walton's known it all too well. He's been selling movie and western memorabilia as long as he can remember. "I started in '72, so 35 years," said vendor Buck Walton. It was the same year manager Melissa Larry's grandfather founded the flea market. Now while she makes sure things stay organized and seeing that the flea market dog, Goddard, has something to snack on, she's got one mind on the future. "I get the feeling that we're just not wanted here, basically," said Melissa Larry, whose grandfather founded the flea market.

Today the flea market is in the Trade Center. In the past it's been in the Exchange Center, but that building is nothing but piles of rubble. Come the end of January, the Trade Center will be gone as well. "We have not been asked to leave in a formal way but I believe we're being phased out of here," Larry said.

The flea market isn't the only change on the grounds. A parking lot stands where the Zingo once gave kids a roller-coaster thrill. Bell's Amusement Park packed up this summer when the fair board declined to renew their lease, saying the fairgrounds was losing money because of the longtime amusement park. And the Tulsa Drillers have a signed a non-binding letter of intent to move to Jenks. This comes as the fairgrounds are prepped to make Tulsa a national destination for horse shows.

Now the Larrys say they're next, which worries vendors like Buck Walton. "Yeah, it makes me sad because I don't have a place to go to, to sell like this," he said. A spokesman for the fair board says these changes, while painful, are necessary for the financial future of the fairgrounds, adding next year's Arabian horse show is expected to bring in more than $10 million to the city. County Commissioner Fred Perry told The News On 6 Saturday afternoon the board has been working with the Larry family to find a new home for the flea market. He also said the Larrys have been reluctant to share building space at the fairgrounds, a solution that may be necessary to keep it on the grounds.

[TheArtist]

Wish there was a place in or near downtown they could move to. Would be neat if it were able to also have a farmers market in the same building as well.

The thing I liked about the fairgrounds flea market was that it was indoors, but was also temporary. The vendors would set up each weekend and anyone could set up there. I watched as lots of individuals, craftsmen, artists etc.  got a start with small business ventures there, including myself. You set up, if your product or service sells you got a winner, if it doesnt you arent out much and can try something else the next weekend until you figure out what works.

The city says it wants to help small businesses get started in Tulsa. This type of thing is a super cheap and easy way to do a bit of that. Perhaps the city or YPs could reach out and help find another spot for them and even promote the idea of a flea market/ small business artisan incubator/ farmers market.

[RecycleMichael]

I am kind of a "Flea" market guy and went to this fairgrounds market about a dozen times a year. I liked it, but it isn't that unique. The one on Admiral west of Mingo has a better selection of stuff and the merchandise turns way more often. I also know there is a new one across the street from Knotty Pine Bar-B-Que and of course now we have E-Bay.

I just believe in using the whole life-cycle of a product before getting a new one. Garage sales and flea markets are great ways to find perfectly usable items. Our favorite place to shop is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore over behind SkateLand. We have purchased cabinets, tables, hinges, tubs, mirrors and similar for years. I swear they yell out my wife's name like they did to Norm on the TV show "Cheers".

A well-run flea market is a real attraction to weekend visitors. There is a massive one in a closed 16 theatre drive-in movie-plex in Miami, Florida that brings in thousands of visitors. Each parking lot has a theme like jewelry, toys, etc.

A good flea market is a great melting pot and people watching opportunity. There are very few places where the wealthy collector walks along the poor trying to save a buck.

[sgrizzle]

As I understand it, the flea market was renting dirt cheap at a building that is being torn down. Status Quo isn't an option no matter what.

[Conan71]

I drove through the Fairgrounds on Saturday.  The old building is now rubble.

I'm going to miss having it there once the Flea Market is gone for good from the Fairgrounds.  I only live about a half mile away, so it's been a convenient Saturday morning walk.

At the rate the fair board is going, they are going to have the largest contiguous parking lot in this part of the country in no time.  It still doesn't look right driving past on 21st St. and having an un-obstructed view of the Pavillion without Bell's in the way.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

I drove through the Fairgrounds on Saturday.  The old building is now rubble.

I'm going to miss having it there once the Flea Market is gone for good from the Fairgrounds.  I only live about a half mile away, so it's been a convenient Saturday morning walk.

At the rate the fair board is going, they are going to have the largest contiguous parking lot in this part of the country in no time.  It still doesn't look right driving past on 21st St. and having an un-obstructed view of the Pavillion without Bell's in the way.

Dont worry aobut Pavillions un-obstructed view. They planted so many new trees right up next to the building that in a few years you wont be able to see the great architecture of that building at all. [V]