The idea of heading to downtown Manhattan in the throws of Black Friday shopping crowds is enough to induce agoraphobic anxiety in even the most stalwart of holiday revelers. But not the Brooklyn Flea. The popular open-air market from Dumbo and Ft. Greene will be shaking off its Thanksgiving Day food coma and swimming across the river to kick off its second annual holiday market “Gifted” in Noho. “For us we’re very aware we’re going to be in downtown Manhattan during peak holiday and tourist shopping,” said Flea co-founder Eric Demby of the decision to bring the flea over the bridge this year. “For us it’s a way to appeal to a slightly wider, more national audience because we know there’s going to be a lot of people from out of town shopping in that area which is why it made sense.”
Located in the storefront of the former Tower Record at 20 E. 4th St. (at Lafayette St.) the Flea’s holiday incarnation will be open Wednesday through Sunday through Dec. 24 as well as everyday between Dec. 16 and Dec. 24, in the hopes of offering an affordable alternative to “big-box stores and high-priced boutiques.”
And with nearly 100 local vendors rotating through the market’s 50 stations over the five-week period, Demby said “Gifted” is going to be not just affordable, but filled with the unexpected.
“I try to keep a certain mix of vendors,” Demby said. “The nature of this market is that since we’re in Manhattan, let’s really go for it. We’re feeling really good about it. The mix is really interesting. It’s just the coolest mix of stuff- vintage vendors, ceramics. It’s quirky, interesting and not that expensive.”
Demby wanted to keep the kind of diversity typical of the traditional Flea, which will remain open throughout “Gifted” every Saturday and Sunday in Brooklyn. The list of vendors varies from stylish crafts from Lotta Jansdotter to vintage jewelry from Christian Lacroix and home beer-brew kits from Brooklyn Brew Shop.
For holiday shoppers looking to do some shopping after work, “Gifted” is partnering with Lucky magazine to host after-work shopping parties on Wednesday nights. The market will be staying open until 9 and customers can peruse the tables of gift goodies while enjoying free small-batch beer from Brooklyn Brew Shop while DJs from spin.
“We’re always working harder to get people to come from Manhattan and beyond,” Demby said. “We consider ourselves a city wide, regional market. We have vendors that come from all over. For us it’s a way to have a market during the holidays that’s open more than just the weekends. It’s not even taking it to another level but trying something new. Part of what people like about the flea is that it’s unpredictable.”
