Merrick flea market becomes home to Aqueduct vendors

By Jeremy Walsh

Bargain hunters lamenting the loss of one of Queens most famous flea markets may find some consolation on a main thoroughfare in the boroughs Springfield Gardens neighborhood.

Situated in what was formerly Crescent Electric Supply at 221-02 Merrick Blvd., the Merrick Flea Market hopes to pick up where the now-defunct Aqueduct Flea Market left off.

The market opened for a test run in August 2010, operating in a cluster of buildings with a corrugated metal roof and a small parking area for customers. But its official opening was Jan. 6, said manager Brian Baxter.

Baxter, who has 33 years of experience managing flea markets -- including the last 13 at the now-shuttered Aqueduct -- has been working to bring vendors in from that famous venue. He praised Merricks indoor arrangement.

That really gives these people a sense of a home in the neighborhood because they can set up shop and leave it there all month long, he said. 

The next step for Baxter is building up the foot traffic. A few cars were parked in the Merrick markets small lot on a Sunday afternoon in January, but shoppers were scarce by 2 p.m. Some of that may have had to do with the piles of snow still lingering along the curbs from a months worth of snowstorms.

The markets website indicates space for about 110 booths. Somewhere around 50 vendors were there on a recent Sunday, offering a wide array of wares including rugs, laptop computers, leather jackets, evening wear, canned food, cooking pots and cosmetics.

A rack of 1980s-style jackets for $10 or less had the potential to excite the vintage clothing crowd.

Baxter is particularly proud of attracting Big Steves Appliance to the market. The business occupies several spaces at the market and was offering everything from snowblowers to refrigerators on a recent Sunday.

A number of booths boasted some options for the Valentines Day shopper on a budget. Youngs Styles by Sonia, which sells an array of new womens suits and evening wear, is offering a free pair of underwear with the purchase of a ladys negligee - at a price of $5.

Marcie Tucker, who sells Avon products as well as handbags, suggested one of her gift baskets with perfumes and lotions.

Some vendors said they miss the large crowds and established reputation of the Aqueduct. They hope this new market can gain the same kind of fame.

The Aqueduct was well-known. Everybody knew it, said Tucker. They came from out of state. We need more people.

Baxter says he is working on that. Next month he plans to start an open-air farmers market at the site.

I think if its anything aside from filling up and letting the community know more and more about us, it would be to set roots just like we were at Aqueduct, he said of his goals this year. They were a big happy family, all the vendors.

How to get there:  

Take the Belt Parkway east towards Nassau County. Take Exit 22, Springfield Blvd., and hang a left on Springfield. Go right on Merrick and go four blocks. The Merrick Flea Market is on the right.

What to look for: 

Appliances, fantasy paintings, discount computers, leather jackets, Avon products

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