This summer, the Providence Flea Market will relocate from its usual spot on the east bank of the Providence River to the west side of 195 District Park.
The move, announced last month, comes after the Providence Flea lost a bid for Parcel 1A — the land that the flea market has used since 2013 — to developer Riverside Partners. Two other groups also bid for the parcel. All four organizations submitted different proposals on how to develop the land, according to Cara Cromwell, media contact for 195 District Park.
Riverside Partners plans to renovate the space, including potential plans to turn the parcel into a six-story mixed-use building with 10 condos and three commercial spaces, the Providence Journal previously reported.
According to Cromwell, the Providence Flea was guaranteed a space on 195 District Park after the bidding process was concluded.
Maria Tocco, owner and market manager of the Providence Flea, told The Herald that she is excited to “continue downtown on a riverfront location” that comes with “more amenities,” such as free Wi-Fi for vendors, a new permanent food and beer pavilion nearby in the park and more portable restrooms for customers.
“This location will have more space and be a more accessible location,” Tocco added. “Before, mostly every (vendor) was on the grass at the flea on South Water street, which wasn’t completely accessible. Now, in the new location, there will still be some vendors set up on the grass, but along the paved walkways visitors and visitors with physical disabilities can walk and be able to access the market.”
Beginning June 2, the market will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays until Sept. 15. In the winter months, the flea market will be held indoors at Farm Fresh RI on Sims Avenue as usual.
In any given summer, over 350 vendors participate in a rotating lineup to sell at the market every weekend, according to Tocco. She is confident that the new location can accommodate just as many vendors as in previous summers, if not more.
“The close proximity to” the previous location is also “a big advantage” since it allows for customers to easily find the flea market even if they haven’t heard about the move, Tocco said.
The relocation is one part of The 195 District Commission's target to redevelop the former 195 land in Providence. The land comprises 26 acres of highway the city reclaimed in 2011 “to create a thriving neighborhood and innovation district that attracts investment and fosters economic growth,” Cromwell wrote in an email to The Herald.
The Providence Flea joins 12 additional projects either in progress or completed within the district that together contribute “$760M in economic activity” to the city, she added.
“There are lots of visitors who come and visit the flea and then may go off and have brunch on Wickenden street or, go across to the vegan restaurant for a coffee or shop along South Main Street,” said Tocco. “The flea has a multiplier effect in the community — as far as the economic impact is concerned.”
“On a Sunday, people are just so happy and fulfilled,” said Tocco. “Regulars come back to shop and talk about what's new, reconnecting with vendors after not seeing them for a whole year. The connections and the relationships are what really makes this flea special.”
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that The Providence Flea Market was guaranteed a space on the 195 District Park if they lost the bid. The flea market was guaranteed a spot after the conclusion of the bidding process. The Herald regrets the error.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that there are 12 additional projects within the 195 District Park. There are 13 total projects in the district. The Herald regrets the error.
Sanai Rashid was raised in Brooklyn and now lives in Long Island, New York. As an English and History concentrator, she is always looking for a way to amplify stories and histories previously unheard. When she is not writing, you can find her trying new pizza places in Providence or buying another whale stuffed animal.
