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Trader’s Mecca Opens

by David Sepulveda | Jun 7, 2011 2:36 pm

(11) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Business/Labor/ Economic Development, Citizen Contributions, Westville

David Sepulveda Photo The newest addition to Westville’s expanding economy and its emergence as a destination is Trader’s Market, a year-round flea market that beckons customers to “shop, swap and save.”

During its grand opening last weekend, a giant tethered balloon drew a visual line in the sky to the market’s location at 86 Fitch St., at the corner of Onyx Street, just a block away from bustling Whalley Avenue.

The Wintergreen of Westville apartment complex serves as a backdrop to the enterprise, separated by a meandering Wintergreen Brook.

Business owners Alyssa DiSpazio and Vicky Jacobs (pictured) said that property owner Paul DiSpazio (husband of Jacobs and father of Alyssa DiSpazio) chose Westville among two properties under consideration for the flea market because of its central location—adjacent to a main city artery and bus route, as well as Southern Connecticut State University. They also thought Westville could benefit from more business activity on the weekends, as well as some of the new jobs that will be associated with the market.

Westville Village is primarily home to eateries, art galleries, shops and salons. City Seed’s farmers market, which operates in Edgewood Park on Sundays, is just a stone’s throw away from the upstart flea market.

Jacobs, who has previous experience working for major corporations in marketing and as a chemist, said that Trader’s Market has 11 uniformed staff members plus a number of paid undercover security staff. She said the business hopes to draw “local artisans, artists and people who have things to sell,” adding, “the property is safe and very secure and we want people to have a good time when they come here.”

DiSpazio, who is also a full-time nursing student in at SCSU, said her weekends are devoted to managing operations and making sure that that the market is professionally run.

The new owners said that their market will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It sells wholesale and retail items, including clothing, electronics, boating items, fishing gear, flowers, jewelry, kitchen gadgets, sporting goods, tools, toys, and antiques and collectibles. They said they looked to some of the clean, well-managed flea markets in parts of New York as templates.

Pirates beware: Jacobs warned that the business will be vigilant in blocking pirated and illegal items as it brings real value to those seeking bargains in the current cash-strapped economy. “Our market will be clean and safe with no parking fees—a cheaper version of the mall without having to spend money for gas getting there,” she said.

The market, which has ample parking on its premises as well as adjacent street-level parking, is divided into long rows of neat yellow tents and a hangar-sized year-round structure that will house many of the antiques and collectibles vendors. A concession stand offers light fare, and Jacobs said they there are talks with local businesses and restaurants to be among the growing list of food vendors.

Among the charter vendors last weekend were Cindi Mihaylo and her mother, Dale Mihaylo, familiar to some as the proprietors of the former Funkenjunk antiques and collectibles business, recently renamed Vintage New Haven. The business, located close to the Woodbridge town line on Whalley Avenue, is still an undiscovered quantity, according to Dale Mihaylo: “While we have been in business for five years, many still do not know we are there.”

She said she hopes to do a lot of cross-promoting of her full-time business by having a year-round presence at Trader’s Market, especially on Sundays when Vintage New Haven is closed.

Another vendor, Troy Gosbin of Fairfield (pictured), specializes in knives, swords and various personal self-defense items like mace and the popular Maxam stun gun and flashlight.

Gosbin said the hand-held unit packs a whopping 400,000 volts, or 2.5 amps of electricity, and can easily disable any attacker in seconds.

He said he normally sells 30 or 40 units of the legal devices per day at other venues, and expects business to pick up in the coming months. A circumspect Gosbin said he’d been hoping for a kind of symbiosis, where “vendors are drawn to crowds and crowds to vendors,” but that hadn’t fully materialized in the first couple of days of business.

Vicky Jacobs said that she is offering special deals to vendors as they endure the smaller crowds expected of any new business and that Trader’s Market will work with vendor-clients to ensure favorable terms now, and into the future. New Haven entrepreneur Marvin Smith, who displayed conventional flea market fare with shoes, T-shirts and stylish colorful dresses, was optimistic despite the sparse crowds.

“Business will increase and other vendors will flock to the business as soon as they find out about the market and its potential. I know of at least four,” he said.

Greg and Judy Antignani and their daughter Emma (pictured), recent transplants from Westville to Bethany, were among the customers. Judy Antignani said that attending the market will be part of their Westville Sunday routine after breakfast at Lena’s and church service at St. Brendan’s Parish. Greg Antignani said he was ready for some good old-fashioned horse trading after spying a neat wrought-iron plant hanger in one of the booths.

“I think I’m going to be able to swap for some antique feathered hats I have,” he said excitedly.

Future plans for Trader’s Market will include possible car and antique shows, auctions and even music concerts as the business grows. Chris Heitmann, executive director of the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance, said the business community welcomes the market, and that by drawing more people to the village, all will benefit.

Information on vendor rates and market hours can be found at the Trader’s Market website or on the market’s Facebook page.

Comments

posted by: George on June 7, 2011 4:14pm

Nice job David. Will have to visit it this weekend and see what they have.

posted by: Jonathan Hopkins on June 7, 2011 4:41pm

Hopefully this market can help spur a redevelopment of the Beaver Hills shopping district by encouraging rehabilitation of dilapidated properties, sidewalk improvements, tree plantings, shopfront maintenance and perhaps some new, small scale development that helps to accentuate the intersection of Fitch and Blake as a destination and center that is similar to and supplemental to the Westville Village.

posted by: A.Thought on June 7, 2011 7:53pm

Every time I read one of David’s articles depicting Westville, I get a real sense of the growth and vitality of the community. Sounds like there’s so much going on and with so much more to come.

posted by: acme flea? on June 8, 2011 9:22am

you know acme is trying to start a flea market on crown st on the weekends. we should also support that.

posted by: Westville resident on June 8, 2011 10:07am

Thanks for the helpful article. This is the first information I’ve read about the market. I drove past it Saturday on the way to and from kids soccer practice at Beecher Elementary. There was nothing visible at the entrance to indicate the nature of the market, the types of goods, parking, or anything for those passing by on the street to provide a sense of welcome or even spark curiosity. Encouraging passing people to come into the grounds will help.

posted by: Chris Heitmann on June 8, 2011 1:53pm

Thank you for the wonderful article, David, and congratulations to Vicky, Paul, Alyssa, and Paul Jr. on their opening!

I agree fully with Mr. Hopkins comments above about the market’s potential to spur new activity, improvements and investments in the Blake & Fitch Street area, especially given its key location between SCSU and Westville Village.

The Traders Market is also helping to create local jobs and economic opportunities for entrepreneurs, lowering the barrier of entry to owning a small businesses via low overhead, joint marketing and management, and a larger destination than any single business.

Good luck to the operators and all of the vendors and hope to see you down at the market.

posted by: Pedro on June 8, 2011 2:16pm

Interesting idea for an under-utilized location, hope it works. They definitely need better signage at the access point!!

posted by: David Sepulveda on June 9, 2011 5:06am

For Westville Resident and Pedro: The sign pictured in the first photo was a rather one large covering the side of a truck and parked outside the entrance perpendicular to the street, while a large banner hovered above the open gate at the entrance. Bright yellow balloons were clustered about and another small sign reading “Flea Market” was visible at the entrance. Several employees were posted at the corners of nearby intersections with signs and balloons as well. Then there was the large balloon(mentioned in the article)that floated high above marking the market’s site. That said, I’m sure the owners will take your comments under consideration. Thanks for your constructive criticism and for taking the time to write in.

posted by: Susan on June 11, 2011 7:21am

David, great article. I have emailed it to many in Fairfield County and in Guilford & Branford. Yes, this is one more great attraction to the area and I plan to support it by buying and selling. I heard about Acme and agree that we need to support that one too but in my world, there are never enough Flea Markets! An aside, my friends from LA visited and they were blown away by New Haven. And it is only because there are so many with people here with vision and passion.

posted by: Anne on June 11, 2011 11:35am

Great article! We’re excited to check it out!

posted by: Michelle Webber on June 16, 2011 6:13pm

Great article and so much fun to read!

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