BERKELEY — The long-standing Berkeley Flea Market plans to reopen this weekend after being closed for weeks due to financial problems.
But the rocky relationship between vendors and the group that manages the market has raised doubts about the swap meet's viability.
Fernand Panhuise with Beautiful Pine Shelves had been a regular vendor on Saturdays and Sundays at the open-air market in the Ashby BART parking lot since 1984. He's cut back to just Saturdays, but says it's hard to justify setting up his stand. There just aren't as many customers.
“It was a lively place, but it’s not lively anymore,” Panhuise said with a slight chuckle. “It’s not that much fun anymore.”
Managing group Community Services United is having its own problems. Officials say that they can’t afford to pay its $2,500 rent anymore, so they’ve jacked up the price for a vendors, according to vendors.
Panhuise says he’d make about $60 a day at the flea market, but it cost $35 dollars to rent the stall.
“So you’re basically losing,” he said. “I’m there all day.”
The recent long stint of rainy weekends hasn’t been helping the market thrive.
Berkeley’s city council is now working to increasing funding, so the market doesn’t shut down all together.
Councilman Ben Bartlett says the city needs to help find a new way to make the flea market self-sustainable.
“It’s an institution here that provides a much-needed opportunity for people to get on their feet, sell their goods, and come together,” he told KCBS Radio.
The City Council is exploring alternate locations that will reduce costs for the market and boost its visibility.