Flea enterprise seeks public’s help for new hub
Roving market finds a home, but it needs renovations
East Vancouver’s hippest flea market will soon have a permanent new home — but first it needs a makeover.
Eastside Flea, conceived in early 2013, is touted as a “modern day flea market” that takes place across the city at various venues, events and festivals.
According to co-founder and operations manager Jill Whitford, the market was launched as a way to bring Brooklyn’s flea market culture to Vancouver.
“Our initial vision was to find a large-scale venue where we could hold regular markets for a diverse array of vendors, from vintage clothing, collectibles and curios to craftsmen goods and artisan foods,” she said. “However, with Vancouver being Vancouver, there weren’t many options — actually, almost none.”
So ESF began hosting smaller pop-up markets — about 30 each year — across the city, which drew between 600 and 1,200 visitors and featured up to 65 vendors.
But the desire to find a more permanent home lived on. About six months ago ESF turned down the chance to lease the Ellis Building at 1024 Main St. — at 8,709 square feet, the team felt was too big an undertaking.
But their friends Ezra Kish and Morgan Ellis — the brains behind the Cobalt and Boxcar club and bar on Main Street — saw the building as well and instantly thought of the market. The pair signed the $10,000 lease and invited ESF to call it their new home.
“Ezra and Morgan leased the building and we’ve teamed up to help bring it to life,” Whitford said.
Now, Whitford hopes the public can help raise some of the funds that will pay for renovations to the decades-old space.
“The previous tenants had been there for close to 80 years, so a lot of the space is untouched,” Whitford said.
“Renovations include things like drywall and paint, fixing the heating system, repairing the leaking roof, upgrading the washrooms, making it wheelchair accessible and so many other general improvements.”
The estimated cost of repairs is just under $40,000. An Indiegogo campaign aims to raise $10,000 to cover roof repairs.
“The vision for the building is to become a Vancouver arts and culture hub,” Whitford said, adding the space will eventually house more than 15 artist studios and host community workshops, block parties and performances.
To donate to the cause, go to bit.ly/eastsideflea.