Flea Markets

[Jason F]

Has anyone realized what a profitable venture a flea market is?

Basically you buy a large lot of land outside of city, set up permanent or portable pole barns/pavilions and rent spots by the day.

Think of the flea market nearest to you and run the figures. I live near the Waldo Flea market in Florida. The place is in Waldo, FL which is a very small town in North Central Florida but the property is on US 301. I own a commercial property nearby and have seen literally tens of thousands of people go to this flea market every Saturday and Sunday I am there. It's insane. They charge $17 for just one 2 x 6 table. That's not including the sites with electric/lighting, permanent tenants, food vendors, and storage facilities they have on site. I'm sure the taxes in Waldo, FL aren't breaking the bank and it would be a huge liability, so I'm sure the insurance isn't that bad either. I think they have to be pulling in over $1MM a year and the place is virtually empty M-Th.

Seems like a really good way to have a 200 acre commercial property cash flow with little permanent structures built.