A city-sponsored flea market that had become a four-decade tradition for Evanstonians returned in a big way Saturday at the Robert Crown Community Center.
Eighty-six vendors turned out for the relaunch of the market — this time held in one of the new center’s ice rinks.
Gladys Flores, assistant program coordinator at Crown, says the city decided to take advantage of the few days when the ice is removed from the rink for routine maintenance and use the space as the new site for the flea market.
The city held its last flea market in 2019 at the old Robert Crown Community Center. Flores said that the vendors “were so excited to hear that we were back.” She said the event was first held more than 40 years ago.
Neneyran Uzkan was selling stained glass mosaic art she created.
She credits her Turkish heritage with the interest and skill she has acquired in producing her pieces.
One family patronizing this year’s market, the Valentine clan of Evanston, were appreciative of the clean, well-organized appearance of the new site.
Arthur Valentine said attending markets is “my family’s pastime.”
Valentine says he scored “a lot of cool deals” for himself, his wife Charissa and their toddlers, Theodore and Benjamin.
The market boasted an eclectic roster of vendors this year.
Susan Zimny has been selling memorabilia and photos accumulated by her family members over the years.
Of particular interest were original editions of Chicago newspapers from 1963 chronicling the assassination of John F. Kennedy that she found among her parents’ belongings after they died.
She said her inventory of family artifacts is dwindling, and she “probably won’t be doing (the markets) a whole lot longer.”
James Anthony Zoccoli of Evanston is in the business of selling “upscale resale and tweaked antiques.”
This includes toys (including Ashton Drake dolls), housewares and cookware, much of which is new or near new, which he said allows him to recoup a higher resale value.
He said his mission ultimately is “finding the right home” for each item he offers for sale.
Why should adult vendors have all the fun? A group of enterprising elementary school girls were selling handmade jewelry, bags and art which they had created.
Two sisters participating in this enterprise, Casey and Cora Hallett, proudly announced that a portion of their sales would go to charity. With such involvement among the younger generation, the City of Evanston’s Flea Market will likely survive for decades to come.
How often will the flea market run?
Hi Lynn,
Given that the ice is only removed from the rink for a brief period each year, I think it’s fair to assume that it will only happen in the rink once a year.
Whether there are plans to hold it at other times in other venues, I don’t know.
— Bill