EVERYTHING To Know Before Exploring The Lucky Flea Market In Rochester, NY!
Looking for something to do this weekend in Rochester, NY?
If you’ve never been to The Lucky Flea Market, you’re missing out on a wonderfully unique part of the Flower City’s arts and culture scene.
As you walk through the market, you’ll see dozens of artists and local vendors selling everything from vintage Buffalo Bills crewnecks, chair cushions from the 70s, to even handmade jewelry.
While you’re there, you can also fuel your shopping with eats from Rochester’s most celebrated local food trucks.
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The Lucky Flea Market: How It All Started
With the city virtually closed during the pandemic, the opening of a vintage flea market was exactly what Rochester needed as it transitioned back to “normal” life.
The community loved it, and the market quickly grew from 30 vendors to the roughly 100 that it boasts every week.
“I remember that first weekend. The energy was like indescribable,” said Chris Rapoza, co-founder of The Lucky Flea.
“The community there [Rochester] has always been super strong and tight knit, but that first weekend I saw so many people I hadn’t seen in over a year and a half and it was just amazing.”
It’s become a beloved part of Rochester’s art scene that serves as more than just a place where you can find funny knick knacks.
The Lucky Flea is somewhere you can connect with friends you haven’t seen in awhile (or make new ones), find your unique style while exploring vintage clothing and lose yourself in decades old memorabilia.
“Beyond the shopping and things you actually find it’s the sense of community. The friendships you get, whether it’s bringing your friends there and experiencing it with them, the relationships you make with these vendors, people seeing the cute dogs, whatever it is. It’s this greater sense of community,” Rapoza said.
It’s not just shoppers that love the market and the connections they make there.
Among the roughly 100 vendors at The Lucky Flea, you’ll find a pop up of FLX Revival, a vintage clothing store located near SUNY Geneseo.
The pandemic forced businesses like FLX to operate online, taking away the opportunity to interact and connect with customers.
When it opened, The Lucky Flea gave them a place to do just that every week.
“You get to experience somebody trying on a piece. Seeing someone’s joy on their face when they actually buy something rather than ‘oh I shipped it out and I’ll never talk to this person again,” said Tyler Eettinger, founder of FLX.
“You know what I mean? There’s something so impersonal about that. I’m a people person. I love that aspect of it [the market].”
Why Shop Vintage?
The late 2010s and early 2020s saw an explosion in the popularity of thrifting and buying second hand.
If you’re late to the party, you might be wondering what all the rage is about.
Why shop vintage? Why not go buy something that’s brand new instead?
Well, a huge reason is avoiding fast fashion, which is often cheaply made and mass manufactured overseas.
Mass production produces excess waste, making it unhealthy for the environment.
Not to mention the unfair labor practices often used to make these garments so cheaply and quickly.
Buying second hand is not only healthier for the environment, it’s also healthier for your wallet. Who doesn’t like saving money?
Not only can you get more pieces for a lower price than you would by shopping retail, but the clothes you’re getting are also higher quality.
“Pre-loved” clothes, particularly ones from the 50s and 60s, are typically made from thicker and more durable fabric.
High quality clothing that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Sign me up!
Vintage pieces give you an opportunity to express your individual style in a way fast fashion never could because “you’re never going to see someone wearing the same shirt as you,” said Eettinger.
Mass produced clothing all looks the same. With vintage, each piece is remarkably unique.
Know Before You Go
Before you hit the market this Sunday, Chris Rapoza has some tips to help you make the most of your trip.
First, some general information to know before you head out.
The market is open every Sunday and held outdoors during the warmer months. In late fall, it moves indoors for the winter, so you can enjoy all it has to offer year round.
Be sure to check the website for information regarding hours, closings, parking, restrooms, directions, accessibility, vendors and more.
Tip #1: bring a big bag (or two).
You never know what you’ll find at The Lucky Flea, so it’s best to come prepared in case you find more treasures than you originally thought.
Tip #2: get in your “zone.”
Shopping with friends is always fun, but Rapoza recommends exploring the market alone to fully immerse yourself in the nostalgia of the items you’re surrounded by.
Tip #3: keep an open mind.
You’ll see anything and everything from “a funny t-shirt with a guy’s name on it to a penis shaped mug.”
What’s beautiful about the market is that even the most seemingly random, unusual items have a story behind them.
One fantastic example Rapoza shared is the story behind a random class of 1982 shirt that he owns.
It features the names of every class member on it, and one day a stranger in public delightedly recognized his own name on the shirt.
“Not only did I like how it [the shirt] looked, it’s got this like story to it. It has added value. It makes me feel like my closet could be this type of little museum.”
So, what will you add to your museum?
Whether it’s a tote bag from the 90s or a print made by a local artist, it’s waiting for you at The Lucky Flea.
Outro & Closing Thoughts
Thank you for reading! For related articles, check out the ones below:
A Sports Fan’s Travel Guide to Rochester, NY (Best Things To See, Eat, & Do)
19 Cute Ways To Wear A Sports Jersey!
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