A crowd of over 800 flea market shoppers beat both the heat and organizer’s expectations as they browsed 23 booths at the first Deep Ellum Outdoor Market on July 17. According to market manager Brandon Castillo, “I had three volunteers with clickers counting the number of people they saw, and the average between the three was 805 total people coming to the market. My goal for the first event was 60 people an hour over six hours.”
He did not think he would get such a big crowd. “Actually, it exceeded expectations!” he says. He also had a nearly full house of vendors. “I had booked 25 vendors, though two didn’t show.”
The flea market opened to a very positive review in the Dallas Observer with the headline — “Deep Ellum Outdoor Market Is More Proof Of The Neighborhood’s Upswing” — suggesting that the market is succeeding in its mission, “to bring people to the streets of our neighborhood and give exposure to our local artists and businesses,” as stated on the market”s Web site. A local blogger offered another good review, with many photos.
The flea market took place in a covered lot with open sides. It featured a band and vendor spaces under the roof, which offered shade to those who braved the three-digit temperatures. The next monthly market will be Aug. 21.
Photo credits, with thanks: Fan photos posted to the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market’s Facebook page.