From the Rose Bowl to the Melrose Trading Post, LA is filled with great flea markets. We here at AT love us some flea markets: they're affordable, fun, and can lead to exciting new discoveries in decor. We post a calendar of flea markets happening around LA each week but don't often bring up the subject specifically. So we're sondering: which markets are your favorite? And are we missing any in our listing?
Here's our list, have you got any to add? Spill your favorites and tell us why. What's your best find ever? Go ahead make us jealous!
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Melrose Trading Post
- Fairfax High School, 7850 Melrose Ave.
- Sundays
-
Pasadena City College Flea Market
- 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
- 1st Sunday of the month
-
Rose Bowl Flea Market
- 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena
- 2nd Sunday of the month
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Long Beach Antique Market
- Veteran's Stadium Parking Lot, Long Beach
- 3rd Sunday of the month
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Santa Monica Outdoor Antique & Collectible Market
- Airport Ave., off Bundy
- 4th Sunday of the month
-
South Park Flea Market
- 8th and Grand
- Sundays 9-4
[image from the book Flea Market Style]
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No favorite flea market, but I highly recommend that book Flea Market Style.
South Park Flea Market is closed indefinitely
I think Long Beach has really taken over from the Rose Bowl, in terms of antique/vintage vendors, as opposed to tube socks.
I miss the L.A. area flea markets, especially the Rose Bowl flea market. Wish they had something like that in St. Louis where I am now. If anyone knows where I can go in St. Louis for a similar experience, please let me know.
I love the Long Beach flea market! I can't wait for this Sunday! My fiance and I picked up a table and chairs last time: http://etrine.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/img_0371.jpg
This weekend we are looking for a mid-century credenza, a pendant lamp, and TV stand.
Pasadena City College is pretty good and it is free to get in. I think Long Beach is the best. Rose Bowl is too expensive to get in and I have found that many of my favorite dealers are no longer there. I think it is expensive for them as well.
i like them all, but rose bowl is still my favorite. my best deal there was a haku maki embossed woodprint for $30... turns out it's listed and worth a whole lot more than i paid for it :-)
generally, i like to scope out things at the rose bowl, and then the following weekend go to vet's stadium. a lot of the same vendors attend both shows, and most of the time, they'll be willing to get rid of a piece for less cash because they weren't successful in selling it the week before. if they still have it, it was meant to be.
Better selections and deals are to be found at Long Beach these days vs. the Rose Bowl. Both are about equal distance from the Westside and you can always hit the Ikea in Carson on your way back from LB.
Pasadena City College is my favorite. I've only been to the Rose Bowl, and Melrose. Out of the 3 PCC is my favorite. I have found some amazing stuff there, and it is very reasonable. The vinyl section is awesome.
My husband and I have become obsessed with flea markets lately. We go almost every Sunday! We've had the best luck at Long Beach (mid century modern furniture and random art work, etc.) PCC may be the best though, given they don't charge for admission and they have a lot of vendors with a great selection. I'm kind of over the Rose Bowl, too. It is the most expensive and we see the same stuff at the other markets. We live in Costa Mesa so it is not always worth the long drive up to Pasadena.