After almost 9 and a half years, the Wolff’s Flea Market in Palatine, IL, closed its doors for business on January 27th. Owned by the storied Wolff family of Wolff’s Flea Market, this market was very special to many people in the area. Vendors not only built their clientele, but it was also a weekend hangout for many groups of friends and families.
Wolff’s Flea Market has been a family-owned business since 1991. With the support of their parents, Katherine and Lawrence Wolff, and sister Eileen, brothers Donald and David Wolff built Wolff’s Flea Market into the premier shopping destination for Chicagoland bargain shoppers and small business entrepreneurs. Their main and biggest market is the Rosemont Market at the Allstate Arena in IL, but also ran a very successful indoor market in Palatine, as well as earlier locations in Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows, and Melrose Park. As times change, so have the markets.
Sharon Wolff, Creative Media and Merchandise Consultant for Wolff’s Flea Market, said that she was upset to see the market close. “It’s definitely sad because being in one place for that long, you build up a following at that business,” she said. “And these businesses who got their own clientele, they had to say goodbye to that. It really was a place for community.”
Sharon said the Palatine building has been for sale since they first moved in 9 years ago. “The building was owned by someone else and it was an old, vacant building for sale. So it has been for sale all along, and it did finally sell.” Since the building is old, the new owners plan on demolishing the building, as well as the nursery next door, to make way for a new car dealership.
However, change is nothing new in the flea market business and so the Wolff family has already set about scouting new locations for the next version of their famous indoor flea. Sharon promises news and information on their search process and ultimate new location will be posted to their social media and website when that happens, so make sure to check back for updates!
As the market’s way of saying thank you and goodbye and offering something special for those who came to see them, Wolff’s offered free admission for buyers and free selling spaces to vendors. Sharon said they also handed out coupons for the Rosemont Market to encourage members to also shop and sell from Rosemont. The Rosemont Flea Market will open back up for their 29th season in April.
Even though the closing of the Palatine Market was a sad day, expect a fun and fabulous 29th season at the Rosemont Flea Market. For the time being, the Wolff family is aiming to spend more time together and relaxing until the Rosemont Flea market opens. More updates on the re-opening of the Rosemont Flea Market are coming soon.
Wolff’s Flea Market
Tel.: 847-524-9590
Website: www.wolffs.com