Central Flea Market sets opening date in new spot after losing old Eastland Mall site
After losing its space 10 months ago at the former Eastland Mall site on Central Avenue, an open-air market is reopening nearly 8 miles away in south Charlotte.
The Central Flea Market, comprised mainly of Hispanic vendors, will open at 9 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday at 1720 Galleria Blvd., the nonprofit Action NC said Tuesday in a news release. Action NC has advocated for assistance and support of the flea market.
“I feel really grateful for being able to start selling again, in this new place, after so long since our flea market closed on Central Ave.,” vendor Iginia Rojas said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer.
The market will start off small and add more vendors, Héctor Vaca, a board member of the vendors’ Central Market Association, told The Charlotte Observer. It also will be renamed El Mercadito, “the little market,” he said.
Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari and others helped secure the new location working with vendors, who made multiple pleas to the city for help relocating. In July, Bokhari secured free temporary space at parking lots between 6th and 9th streets and between Brevard and Caldwell streets, the Observer previously reported.
The new 11-acre, mostly paved space off Independence Boulevard and Monroe Road, near Matthews, has free customer parking.
The market will be open Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gates open for vendors to set up at 6 a.m.
Why the Central Market moved
In February, Central Market vendors were told by city staff to leave the property immediately, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Last fall, the city ended its lease agreement with the market operator to make way for a $175 million mixed-use development. Crosland Southeast began construction at the 80-acre site this summer after billionaire sports owner David Tepper pulled out of the project.
The market vendors formed the Central Market Association to find a new location working with city officials to find land and financial support, Vaca said in a statement.
Vaca said Charlie Mulligan helped broker a deal and Daniel Levine offered the land.
This story was originally published November 15, 2022 at 2:26 PM.