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'Stellar Assemblage' of Vendors Star in Flea Market in Wicker Park Sunday

By Alisa Hauser | May 3, 2013 9:59am | Updated on May 3, 2013 1:27pm
 Chicago Flea MKT will land at the Pritzker School playground in Wicker Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and June 2. The open-air, "rain-or-shine" event features artisans, arts activities and food trucks. Here's a sneak peek at a few of the items for sale at the market.
Chicago Flea MKT Sunday
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WICKER PARK —  An outdoor flea market is coming to Wicker Park Sunday, though don't expect to find tube socks, batteries and power tools like you would at a typical flea market.

Expect to find plenty of handmade goods — including leather accessories, apparel, jewelry and candles — along with arts classes at the inaugural Chicago Flea MKT scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday on the Pritzker School playground, 2009 W. Schiller St. 

Chicago Flea MKT founder Nathan Terraza, 25, a recent graduate of DePaul University's entrepreneurship program, said he wanted to create an open-air market reminiscent of the kind he saw while traveling on the East Coast.

The young entrepreneur who lives in the south suburbs with his family said he chose Wicker Park to host the first Chicago Flea MKT because "it was obvious."

"It's grungy, it's artistic, it has a vibe to it," Terraza said.

Terraza began planning the Chicago Flea MKT more than a year ago and cold-called vendors on Etsy, an online indie craft marketplace, and he solicited artists who were displaying at craft fairs throughout the city.

A media release for the free event touts a "stellar assemblage" of curated goods, including jewelry, clothing, artwork and vintage items.

"I wanted to bring people together in one spot, create an outlet for serious makers of unique items," Terraza said. "There are so many talented individuals out there."

Among the goods being offered by nearly 60 exhibitors will be colorful dresses by Greenola Style, an apparel design company that has a shop in Andersonville's Galleria; Vintagliz leather apparel and accessories by Vintageliz; and ceramics by Shira Leon.

In addition to handmade goods, Division Street's One Strange Bird will present free pop-up art classes throughout the day, and food trucks Duck 'N' Roll, 5411 Empanadas, Bridgeport Pasty and The Slide Ride will be parked outside the playground too.

Terraza said he "bootstrapped" the entire production of the event by using money from vendor booth fees to rent the 40,000-square-foot playground, create marketing materials and pay for permits.

While there's two markets on the horizon to start, Terraza said he eventually hopes to organize open-air flea markets every weekend.

While some on the Chicago Flea MKT's Facebook page have asked if the market will move indoors if it rains, Terraza said the event will happen "rain or shine."

Sunday's current weather forecast is "clouds with breaks of sun."

After Sunday's market, Chicago Flea MKT will return to the Pritzker School playground from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2.