The Berkeley Flea Market, a beloved institution in South Berkeley, has taken a significant step towards revitalization with the opening of a new consignment shop at 1937 Ashby Ave. This initiative aims to support local vendors and attract more customers to the market, which has been operating for over half a century.
The new shop, managed by Kristen Spencer, showcases a wide array of items from the market’s vendors, including paper artStar Wars Lego setshand-crafted jewelrynatural shea butterplantsclothing and sunglasses. The shop operates Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with plans to expand to a Monday-to-Friday schedule in the future.
The Consignment Shop: A New Chapter for Vendors
The consignment shop is more than just a retail space; it’s a platform for vendors to promote their businesses daily. Vendors display their goods on a monthly rotation, ensuring everyone gets highlighted. Each vendor keeps 80% of their sales, while the shop retains 20%. Prices range from $2.50 for a piece of paper art to $250 for an African mask.
Spencer emphasized the shop’s role in supporting vendors: “This is a consignment store that helps our vendors at the weekend market promote their items on a daily basis. This is their business, and that’s what we want to help promote for them.”
The shop, which was previously the office of the Berkeley Flea Market, also serves as a beacon to inform the community that the market is still functioning. Spencer noted, “There was a lot of misinformation about the market closing and disappearing.”
A Resilient Market Facing Challenges
The Berkeley Flea Market faced a significant challenge last summer when its longtime operator, the nonprofit Community Services United, announced its shutdown due to operational costs. However, vendors continued to show up, and in August, the market officially reopened after signing a two-year contract with BART. Since then, the number of vendors has increased from 20 to 35 on average on Saturdays, the peak day of the market’s weekend schedule.
Despite this growth, the market still faces financial struggles. The $30 fee each seller pays is the main source of revenue, and the market is waiting to hear back from grants it has applied for. However, it recently received a $2,750 grant from the city of Berkeley for its grand opening.
Expanding the Market’s Reach
To further support vendors and attract more customers, the market is rolling out an online marketplace where vendors can post their items. This platform will allow sellers to create independent storefronts, upload images, and list items. Other revitalization efforts include a vendors’ appreciation day planned for next month, a music festival scheduled for August, and a job fair and senior citizens’ day.
The market’s recent celebration of over 50 years of operation marked a new beginning, with about 60 vendors rallying in its Ashby parking lot. The event featured music performances from keyboardist and producer Mike “Spiderman” Robinson and R&B singer Niecey LivingSingle, as well as food offerings by local vendors. Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii and South Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett attended the event, showing their support for this South Berkeley institution.
