A new flea market opened last month at the Castle Gardens Nursery in Richmond, Ill. According to owner Bill Breit, the Castle Gardens Craft Fair and Flea Market launched strong but has wilted a bit in the summer heat. “We started out with 50 vendors, but that’s slowed down a little bit. It’s been hot hot hot, and it’s been a little bit tough,” he says.
He is advertising on Craigslist for new sellers. Outdoors vendors pay $18 per day, $27 for the whole weekend. Indoor vendors pay $25 per day, $45 per weekend. Breit has 150 spaces available, with 20 to 25 of those inside.
The market is open every Saturday and Sunday, and will likely stay open through Christmas. Coming up, Breit is planning a Native American pow-wow, Aug. 21 and 22; Back-To-School Days, Aug 28 and 29; a biker swap meet, Sept. 18 and 19; and a Fall Festival, Sept. 25-26.
He is hoping that events and publicity will draw in new vendors. “We’re going to do a lot of advertising this coming month,” Breit says. For more information, call Bill, Bob, or Denise at (815) 678-7200, or e-mail castlegnrchmnd@aol.com.