A new indoor/outdoor flea market is opening in Columbus, Ga, at the corner of Elvan Ave. and Victory Drive. According to a Craigslist ad, the Victory Drive Flea Market is located in a high traffic area and is looking for vendors. The new market is charging $10 for outside spaces and $20 for inside spaces.
Casey Burns of O’Reilly Auto Parts in Columbus confirmed that it would be held in the former Destiny Dog / Maytag Laundry location next door. “They just painted the building the other day,” he says, “and they have a sign out that says ‘Coming Soon.’ ”
FleaMarketZone subsequently reached Bob Oney, the co-owner of the new market, who offered many more details. He says he has already opened the flea market, in a laid-back fashion. “Well, I’m just trying to get started,” he says. “I’ve run a little ad in the paper. I’ve been open for a while. I have one or two people coming on the weekend now.”
The land for the market is fairly extensive, and Oney has plans to run a much larger market on the site. “I have about five acres in town, so I can go quite a ways. I figure I could get 400 spaces,” he says.
Oney used to run a BMX bike track on the land, but it was not very successful. “We’re going to use that for the flea market too. I put a lot of money in that bicycle track, and it didn’t turn out. You know the guy who says, ‘Build it and they will come’? He ain’t quite right.”
A major inspiration for opening the market was a desire to offer people bargain prices “I’m surprised how much everything costs now,” explains Oney. “Everything costs, no doubt about that! I got an old truck I pulled out of the woods, a 1981 dump truck, and I called up about a brake cylinder for it. The brake cylinder is not very big at all, and it’s $130. So everything is up. Groceries are up. That’s why I wanted to get the flea market going.”
He was also inspired by his affection for old things. “I want to make it kind of look like an old-time market, so it will be more attractive from the road,” he says. “I’ve always liked old things.” However, he is open to all vendors, from antiquers and crafters to people selling new merchandise. “All I really want is to rent spaces. I’ll take anybody.”
Bob Oney operates the market with his son, Aaron. “He and I are partners,” he says. “I’m kind of doing that because I’m 70 years old now. He thinks I shouldn’t work too hard. But I can do this all right.”
For more information about the Victory Drive Flea Market, call (706) 681-1030.