Ontario, Calif., saw the grand opening of a new swap meet, flea market, and farmers market on June 5. The Ontario Marketplace opened with a full house, and then some. According to director David Jackson, “We sold out on vendor space. Until July 3, we’ve only got basically 90 vendor spaces, and we sold 94. We had to make some additional room.”
The market features both farmer stands and merchandise and prepared food vendors. “This Saturday there will be 22 farmers and about 74 general merchandise and food vendors, using every inch of space,” says Jackson.
The market is being held on land next to the Ontario Convention Center, and the city of Ontario is completing a repaving project at the site. Then there will be space for more than 90-some-odd vendors. “Starting July 3, we’ll actually be able to up that to 150,” says Jackson.
Jackson, an experienced market operator, said that the grand opening saw 500 shoppers and a live band. He expects even larger crowds on days that there is an event at the convention center.
Another attraction is a “Kid’s Fair,” featuring two carnival rides and a bouncy house. “This Saturday we’ll be giving special receipts out to the vendors, so that if parents buy anything – it could be a bottle of water – their kids can ride the rides for free,” said Jackson.
The market will run every Saturday year round, and booths range in price from $10 for a 10×10 nonprofit to $95 for a 20×20 food booth. Details are available in the vendor section of the market’s Web site.
The parent company of Ontario Marketplace is West Coast Festivals, which operates several annual expos and fairs. This is the company’s first ongoing weekly event. Local officials are supportive of the new market, according to a report in Ontario Now. Anyone interested in the Ontario Marketplace may contact David Jackson at (909) 472-3377.