The Shoppes at Bowden Farms opened earlier this December in Jacksonville, Florida, with 58 vendor spaces available and a very large variety of goods for sale. “We’ve actually got a 32,000 square foot building, and within that there is an antique mall, 23 specialty shops, and then the indoor flea market,” says Phil Young, general manager. “What we’re trying to do is cover every venue, basically.” In addition, the market has produce and other food vendors, a gold and silver exchange, and will soon have fresh seafood as well.
After two weeks, about half of the vendor space is already occupied, with an additional 6,000 square feet that can be utilized in the case of further growth, which would allow for more than 100 vendors. Young adds that the reception so far has been very positive. “Everybody loves what we’ve got going, because it really is something for everyone,” he notes. “We’ve got an Avon store, a hobby shop, a toy store for kids, computer repair guy, and Ebay sales, for example. It’s a really good mix.”
Open Five Days a Week
The year-round market is open from 8 to 5 Wednesday through Sunday, and Young believes that it could be expanded to seven days a week sometime next year. The Shoppes at Bowden Farms has daily, weekly, and monthly rates, starting as low as $20 per day and going up to $250 a month for full-time vendors, including taxes and power. For more information, call 904-737-0275.