INWOOD — Brooklyn Flea, watch out: Inwood is about to get its own local flea market.
Started by a local couple as a way to raise funds for the Inwood businesses ruined during a massive fire last month, the market is making a trial run with two dates in February and hopes to become a local fixture.
“It would be nice to have something up here that would bring tourism and attention to the local businesses,” co-founder Daniel Strong said.
The market idea was hatched by Inwood couple and business partners Strong, 27, and Danielle Ricciardi, 30, who run Chickpea and Olive, a local vegan food maker and delivery service. The two met while working at a restaurant downtown and started their business after they began dating.
After Strong and Ricciardi participated in Bread and Yoga studio’s holiday market in December 2011, the duo decided that they wanted to bring a flea market to Inwood.
“We met the kindest and best people there…Inwood folks, everybody was just so talented and we became a family in those three weekends,” Ricciardi, who is originally from Westchester, said. “We just turned to each other and said, ‘We should organize something like the Brooklyn Flea or Dekalb [Market].”
For Strong, who grew up in Soho, the flea market bug is in his blood.
Strong’s mother founded the Pompeii Artisan Market, which has been in business at Bleecker and Carmine streets, just west of Sixth Avenue, for more than 20 years. That market raised approximately $60,000 each year through fees and rentals that benefits Our Lady of Pompeii Church.
“It seems like an easy way to raise money for the businesses that got torched or a way to support some of the other local businesses and artists,” he added, explaining that proceeds from vendor fees and a raffle for a host of local items that is being organized would go toward the businesses in February.
Although the pair thought they had time to make plans for the start of the flea market, the massive fire that ruined nine businesses in Inwood pushed them to start planning sooner.
Strong and Ricciardi, who are working with a group of volunteers, including local artist M. Tony Perlata and blogger Rachel Figueroa-Levin, hope to see the market catch on.
So far, more than 20 vendors have applied to sell during the two dates; Inwood Flea is still accepting applications.
“We want to offer something that you can’t get elsewhere and it’s got to be the most convenient way to get it,” Strong said.
“It would be great if it turned into a fixture in the community,” Ricciardi added.
The Inwood Flea takes place Saturday, Feb. 11 at Latter Day Saints Church, at 1815 Riverside Drive and on Feb. 18 at Good Shepherd Church, 620 Isham Street, between Seaman Avenue and Park Terrace West.
Confirmed vendors include: Neighborhood Bath, Pet Portraits, toymaker Doctor Superhelga, Will Teez clothing; Pup Art by Abigail ceramic pet portraits; Colorevolutions woodcrafts; chickpea & olive; Relica Repurposed jewelry; Citysage, items for new mothers; Buunni Coffee; wEdgepottery; art by The Peralta Project; Fools Gold jewelry and Furocious Gear pet goods.
To apply to sell at the market, fill out the Inwood Flea application and send it to inwoodflea@gmail.com. For more information visit the market’s Facebook page.
