After a decade and a half as a staple of the Williamsburg flea market scene, Artists & Fleas is opening its fourth location, smack dab in the middle of Soho, on the corner of Prince and Broadway. Look out, Prada.
Founded by Brooklyn-based Amy Abrams and Ronen Glimer in 2003, A&F allows independent artists and designers to sell their wares (or wears. . .get it?), resulting in a hodge podge of hip stuff: vintage clothing, jewelry, leather products, art items, handbags, food, and, of course, beard oil.
The Soho market promises not only to set itself apart from the traditional stores that surround it but also its cousins: the original market in Williamsburg, the Chelsea market and the Venice market in LA. Among the 40 or so merchants that will set up in Soho, some will be established (there’ll be another The Strand popup), some will be returning artist collaborations (Gypsy Nation Vintage and Eveliina Vintage) and several will be new designers to Artists & Fleas, such as Spooksvilla and Min and Mon. Jaima Art Apparel is run by Jaima, who recently did this mural for A&F’s Williamsburg location:
Each Artists & Fleas market is unique. Ronen sees the Williamsburg one as more gritty and industrial, Chelsea as a bit more “polished,” and the Soho market will make use of its giant windows to create interplay with the street. Soho is where “professional shoppers go to shop,” but Artists & Fleas is a place for the professional and casual shopper alike, as well as the curious passerby.
Even with the Soho branch opening soon, Artists & Fleas is already looking for a new place for their fifth market, and is launching an online store sometime in early June.
Artists & Fleas Soho Market opens May 12th with opening week Mother’s day event plans in the works.
Artists & Fleas Soho Market 568 Broadway – open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Correction: The number of vendors will be about 40, not about 100 as originally stated by an Artist & Fleas spokesperson.