VALDOSTA —
Nestled along Interstate 75 in Lake Park is the relatively new Lake Park Flea Market — an indoor flea market featuring a wide variety of venders.
The flea market, which holds over 16 acres of retail space, opened in December and is air conditioned to help keep customers and vendors cool during the hot summer months.
The flea market, which is owned by Suncoast RV owner Fred Hassan, is managed by his niece, Lorraine Clayborn.
According to Clayborn, her uncle wanted to start something that would attract not only older visitors but younger as well.
“He has the campgrounds (and) he has a lot of older people camp. A lot of younger people are getting into it. (The flea market is) something they can do as they are here camping,” Clayborn said. “It’s something to attract people and give vendors the opportunity to try and get a business going.”
Lake Park Flea Market is open three days a week, but according to Clayborn, Friday’s are usually slow due to vendors moving in and cleaning their booths. Clayborn also does a lot of paperwork on Fridays, meeting with new vendors and getting them ready for their booth.
“Friday’s are slow, I will say that, but on Saturday and Sunday, it usually gets busier,” Clayborn said.
Also in the same building as the flea market are several other businesses Hassan owns, including Suncoast RV and Pay 4 Less, a store that offers a bit of everything at discount prices.
There will also be a restaurant opening soon called Uncle Freddy’s. The grand opening date hasn’t been finalized.
“Visitors will be able to go in there, have a drink, have dinner, and they’re going to have karaoke, too,” she said.
One Hundred Vendors and Counting
According to Clayborn, as of the weekend of July 10-11, there are over 100 vendors located at Lake Park Flea Market.
One vendor has even rented 16 booths to make one huge market for themselves.
“They have 16 booths,” Clayborn said. “They are basically like a dollar store. They have everything. They have everything from A to Z, from batteries to bras.”
The flea market has a variety of vendors, offering everything from antiques and brand new DVDs to computer repairs and even insurance.
“We have an insurance guy, David Ellington, who comes every weekend,” Clayborn said. “We have a lady who does energizing. It’s not massaging and she’s getting her own booth in a private office. She’ll arrange it from five minutes to however long (the person wants). There’s some food vendors here that sell popcorn, hot dogs and nachos.”
Ethelen Hayes, who owns Chrisgene’s, a booth that specializes in fashionable purses, jewelry and more, has been a part of Lake Park Flea Market for three months.
“I always wanted to own a boutique,” Hayes said. “So, this is my way of trying it out.”
Mike and Anita Postell own Real Scents, a booth specializing in designer perfumes and colognes. Offering the latest fragrances from Usher, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton and Ed Hardy, the Postells also have fragrances sets at low prices.
“We’re just trying it out,” Mike Postell said. “You can’t get lower prices anywhere.”
Robert Johnson, who owns the appropriately titled Robert Johnson’s This and That, has been operating his booth for the past five months.
Johnson sells a variety of things, from special Betty Boop merchandise to signs and photos.
“Business has been up and down,” Johnson said. “It hasn’t been that bad.”
Becoming a Vendor
According to Lake Park Flea Market’s website at http://lakeparkfleamarket.com, the market can hold up to 292 vendors.
Becoming a vendor is simple, and according to Clayborn, they are looking for vendors all the time.
“What we do is take the first month’s rent in advance and then they have to get a business license,” she said. “We have the forms here for them and they can take (the form) to the tax collector’s office.”
According to the vendor package, one outside table costs $15 a day. An inside table, for a month, ranges from $150 and up, depending on the number of tables.
Additionally, a booth for the weekend can be rented for $50 or for the day for $25.
One thing that vendors can look forward to is not having to constantly move their merchandise in and out like most flea markets.
“(Vendors) do not have to take (their merchandise) home,” Clayborn said. “You have roll down doors and you put your own lock on them. You don’t have to move your stuff in and out. You lock your stuff in.”
Those interested in becoming a vendor can visit the flea market’s web site for an application.
Lake Park Flea Market
Address: 5244 Jewel Futch Road, Lake Park
Phone: (229) 559-8056
Email: info@lakeparkfleamarket.com
Web: http://lakeparkfleamarket.com
Business
Related Photos
-
Lake Park Flea Market is located at 5244 Jewell Futch Road in Lake Park. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Customers browse the items available for sale by vendors at Lake Park Flea Market. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Robert Johnson, owner of Robert Johnson’s This and That, stands in front of his booth at Lake Park Flea Market. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Mike Postell, who owns the Real Scents booth with his wife, Anita, shows customers one of the many designer fragrances they have available. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Lake Park Flea Market features a host of different vendors, offering everything from accessories and clothing to movies, books, electronics and more. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Ethelene Hayes, owner of Chrisgene’s, shows one of the many purses for sale in her booth at Lake Park Flea Market. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Chrisgene’s, a booth owned by Ethelene Hayes, has purses, jewelry and other fashionable accessories for sale. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
Shoppers look over merchandise at Lake Park Flea Market. Karah-Leigh Hancock
-
“Mama” Smith looks over movies available for sale at the Wanda’s Movies and Things booth at Lake Park Flea Market. Karah-Leigh Hancock
Lake Park Flea Market: Indoor market offers variety of items
- Business
-
-
Gayla’s Grits: A Taste of the South
What started as a unique Christmas gift for family and friends has turned into the go-to business for the best grits in town and, possibly, the world.
Gayla’s Grits, owned by husband-and-wife duo Kevin and Gayla Shaw, began in 1997 while grinding naturally grown white corn for personal consumption. -
Graduates heading into the real world
Over the last week or so, thousands of high school students in our area have graduated and are preparing for their next step in life. Some are going straight to college, others are seeking military careers, some are going straight to work, and there are most likely quite a few who have no real plans or idea what to do next.
-
Have A Happy Free Birthday!
The only thing better than a birthday is a free birthday. I would know, because my birthday was on Friday and, yes, I am absolutely using the newspaper as a platform for a free birthday ad because Facebook just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
-
Valdosta Shared Office Space
VALDOSTA — Though Valdosta Shared Office Space is not new to Valdosta, it is newly green. The first and only shared office space in Valdosta owned by Gino Fina, just became the first Downtown Valdosta business to work with the Georgia Cities Foundation’s Green Communities Fund to implement environmentally friendly, energy-efficient improvements, reducing energy consumption upwards of 50 percent. -
Downtown businesses to be mobbed this week
A few years ago, when everyone started talking through social media, flash mobs became the new in thing to do. Primarily in the big cities, although VSU did their own a year or two ago, a designated place and time would be set and masses of people would descend on these sites, sometimes dancing, sometimes singing, sometimes acting obnoxiously.
-
Keep tails wagging when your budget is lagging
I have a problem. Though I am a tight-wad when it comes to spending my money, I cannot resist the calling to buy adorable toys, collars and, yes, even clothes for my three cuter than all get out fur babies.
-
The Valdosta Mall: Revamped and Ready for Business!
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Mall has made tremendous strides since its rebranding away from Colonial Mall in 2007 and it’s refocus in 2008 when it made a move from serving the community to being a part of the community.
“We had taken for granted our place in the community for a long time,” said Jerry Weller, general manager of the Valdosta Mall. “We don’t do that anymore.” -
Keep your clothes looking fab to avoid looking drab
As I get older, I’m beginning to learn that there are more important things than clothes. Ugh! It pains me to even form that sentence; however, it’s true.
-
Business This Week: Happy Mother’s Day!
Today is the one day a year dedicated to celebrating mothers, although we all use their guidance and wisdom every day. But for this one day, their sacrifices, kindness, love, and advice are recognized, hopefully, by the children they raised or helped to raise. It might not even be those born to them, as most mothers don’t limit their love and it flows over onto their children’s friends, family members, and the children they influence in the classroom, in Sunday school and in volunteer activities.
-
Downtown will have a new beat this week
The Brown Bag Concert Series produced by Valdosta Main Street will begin again on Monday and last all week.
- More Business Headlines
-
