Journal & Topics Media Group

For Flea Market, It’s Still Wait & See



Sign along I-90 at the Allstate Arena announces Wolff’s Flea Market opening date as to be announced.

As we enter spring 2020, what should be a time for flowers, treasure hunting, and sunny flea market strolls, Wolff’s Flea Market at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont is awaiting guidance from state and local authorities to announce the opening date for their 2020 season.

Says owner Donald Wolff, “Right now, due to the necessary COVID-19 closings of public, crowd attracting venues, all Illinois’ flea market 2020 operations have ceased.”

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted and disappointed the tens of thousands of customers and thousands of micro business sellers who have called family-owned Wolff’s Flea Market their Sunday home every April through October since 1991.

At this time flea markets are not considered to be an essential business in line with grocery stores or the now open farmers markets that sell mainly food. It is true that many micro-business vendors at Wolff’s do supply essential products like fresh produce, groceries, cleaning, personal care products and even local honey. However, others sell “non-essential” yet important economically-priced household, garden, clothing, entertainment, collectible and general products. Always, yet especially now in this time of job loss, shoppers and families depend upon the availability of all categories of discounted merchandise. Likewise, vendors rely upon sales as a main source of income.

Additionally, Wolff’s popular food concession vendors have lost their seasonal income. A few food sellers own restaurants or roaming trucks and have been able to continue business on a limited basis. Says Donald Wolff, “We are happy to support these vendors and have enjoyed a few flea market specialties like take-out tacos and shaved ice.” However, vendors who operate smaller food stands have no location other than the flea market to sell their food. They are missing the long lines of customers waiting for such delicacies as freshly baked pastries, Mexican fruit cups, pizza and roasted corn. For a list of Wolff’s Flea Market food vendors and their contact information go to wolffs.com.

Says Sharon Wolff, “We recognize that this situation has been difficult and stressful for everyone. We are sad for losses to micro and seasonal businesses, income, camaraderie and affordable shopping opportunities for customers. We know our flea market family is hurting beyond the market and continue to pray for everyone’s emotional strength, health and safety during these difficult times.”

Wolff’s Flea Market waits for Illinois’ retail venues to resume operation and are hoping, along with guidelines and training, to be considered at the appropriate time to regain its place as an essential hub for local small businesses and people in need of discounted goods.

“By reopening, we will be able to provide thousands of jobs to the newly-unemployed as well as returning vendors who would be re-employed and gaining back lost income, Don Wolff says. “The National Flea Market Association has developed strict guidelines for safe market operations and flea markets in other states have begun to open according to these best practices. We are watching to learn how this could be applied to us in the future as Illinois venues begin to reopen. Our priority will be for the safety of our staff, customers and sellers.”

Says Sharon, “Let’s please be kind to each other, support local small businesses and essential workers and especially follow CDC and local guidelines to continue to #stumpthespread and #flattenthecurve so we can commence to our new normal when it is deemed safe. May we all emerge from this situation with powerful insight and appreciation for what life presents to us.”

Meanwhile, Wolff’s continues to stay in touch with customers and vendors via social media and flea-mails at facebook.com/wolffsfleamarkets.

Wolff is creative media and merchandise consultant for Wolff’s Flea Market.

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