Cowgirls at the flea market. Still photos by Paul Goldfinger. Left click for large view. Then back arrow.
Rain in the morning. People ran for cover or just kept shopping.
There were no giant fleas at the Ocean Grove Giant Flea Market, but there was darn near everything else. The Chamber of Commerce reports that 370 vendors were on Ocean Pathway Saturday, which is about as usual for this event. Every available space was filled.
The Chamber and the vendors got lucky on the weather. A threatening rain moved in during the morning, but it quickly stopped and things turned out fine. The wind was blustery, but not in a bad way. A few people had their hats blown off.
To show what it was like, here is a Blogfinger video. — CL
I happen to love the flea market, just wish the town would send a clean up crew around on Sunday or Monday to pick up the debris left behind. Much is not dropped into the dumpsters provided, and the neighboring home owners are left to clean up their property.
Man, I guess I’ve seen (or read) it all. People have a problem with yard sales and flea markets? I’ve lived in northern California and yard sales (I call them that because I never see them occurring inside of a garage) weren’t any less common than in NJ. I’ve been all across the country and have seen them pretty much everywhere. Anyway those are some interesting standards to live up to. Maybe we should just burn half the town down and start over with cookie cutter Victorians and Queen Anne’s and make sure they are populated with only the most proper.
Here you again have new to OG people trying to change the town. You move here because you love the town now join me in changing it.
We need to distinguish between the giant flea market and the wonderful OG tradition of porch sales. This past spring Blogfinger sponsored a town-wide porch sale festival. It was held at a perfect time, which was on the Mother’s Day weekend Saturday. We had about 20 addresses participating all around the town and we publicized it on the blog.
I made rounds that day and discovered that everyone was having a great time. Neighbors teamed up with neighbors, shoppers found treasures and bargains, and everybody had some laughs and wonderful conversations. It was a sunny, happy day, and we all were flying balloons. It was a totally positive experience, and the visitors to town also had a good time.
How can this be viewed as having a “negative impact?” In fact, it is “Grovey” and quirky, the kind of “brand” that most of us enjoy. We will do it again next year, same Saturday, and this time we hope to double the number of addresses participating—the more, the merrier!
Due to other commitments, I didn’t get to the flea market until 2pm. At that time more than half the spaces were empty and most of the other vendors were packing up, so I’m surprised at the comment that there were no empty spaces.
Dear Confused – the OG flea market is an environmentally friendly way to recycle things you no longer need. One man’s trash is another one’s treasure. My OG house is primarily furnished from the flea market, Craig’s List and the Asbury Park thrift stores!
While an individual should be able to have a yard sale if they really feel they must, assuming they get the permit, I do agree with the thought that flea market events — especially GIANT flea markets sponsored by a town — are a pretty down-market activity. Do we really want OG to be known as the place you go for a GIANT flea market? Classic car show is great, a craft show is great, an antique show would be great, but a flea market? I do not believe the revenue earned is worth the negative impact on the OG brand. This town is well along it its repositioning and its time to leave this Ocean Grave tradition in the junk yard of history (pun intended).
Opposed? You can always go back to the West Coast! I hear there’s permanent sunshine, marijuana for sale AND movie stars! Of course, I also hear that Las Vegas will be ocean front property soon…..but that remains to be seen. Give me a crass, rude, tacky, etc., yard sale any day! It’s fun to see your items go to someone who might love them, for a dollar, and vice versa! Whatever is left over is usually donated after we go to lunch at Pizza On Main with our proceeds booty! Once again, support your local economy! I found a couple of great items for a song and a dance and made a new friend! Nothin better on a rainy day in the Grove!
I was visiting my sister in Maryland when one of her neighbors proceeded to tell me what was wrong with New Jersey. We were rude, pushy and loud. Had I been a better person, I might have let it go, but, since I’m not that better person, I pointed out that *none* of my New Jersey friends would be so crass as to offer such a critique. She walked away, and, to this day, reminds my sister of just how rude I am.
That said, a quick glance at various California Craigslist pages negates the above comment that yard sales are rare there.
Opposed:
Talk about poor taste. Around here, yard sales are celebrated as charming small-town social events. In California, they sell marijuana to anybody who shows up in a “clinic” pretending that they are sick.
But, you are right about about “desperate people.” I was one of those this past spring when I put a working GPS out for $30.00. A man picked it up and studied it carefully. He then took out his wallet and said, “I only have $12.00.”
“OK,” said I, “You can have it for free.”
“No thanks,” he said, “It doesn’t have the latest technology.”
I finally gave it to the Salvation Army.
Why is there such interest in yard sales and flea markets in New Jersey? I am from California and moved here 6 years ago. On the other coast, it is considered in poor taste to try to sell one’s used items, worn out furniture, etc. Many consider flea markets to be venues for criminals to move stolen property. We donate our items to our churches, the Salvation Army, Vietnam Vets, etc. I think that these sorts of events reflect poorly on Ocean Grove and should be stopped.
If you have a compelling need to sell your used property, take it up Route 33 to the flea market (which I am confident IS a venue where some of the vendors are criminals to sell stuff that was stolen or pirated). Please, let’s not present ourselves as a a bunch of desperate people trying to squeeze a few bucks out of our old stuff. Donate to charity instead.