Brooklyn Flea Indoor & Holiday Market

Was so psyched to finally get to the Brooklyn Flea and Smörgåsbord, albeit in winter, and was pretty underwhelmed. While the venue is fine, parking is easy, and the space attractive, I’ve been to better.
For the Flea part, prices are just crazy. As a veteran of fleas all over the country, I do need to feel like I got not only a unique item but a good value. Vintage Coach bags were in fair abundance, but $ 65 — $ 85 for each? And, it was all kind of… boring. I would have enjoyed more handmade jewelry, soaps, bags, etc, and maybe more unique collectibles. While I don’t collect MCM I noticed there was not much of that at all, nor a lot of up cycled furniture. I long for the Hell’s Kitchen Flea of yesteryear.
The Smorgasburg section was small, and while what we sampled was quite good, it was also quite expensive.
To top it all off, there was only ONE stall in the ladies room and a line out the door. We wound up going to Costco next door to avoid the line.
Glad we went but we left with only one purchase and we were itching to spend money!

The two stars is NOT for the fact that the Brooklyn Flea was at Berg’n last year, it’s because it is not there this year!
The Berg’n space was absolutely perfect for the winter flea: incredibly easy to reach via the 2, 3, 4, 5, and C trains and such a lovely, open space. All the vendors I spoke with were thrilled!
This year it’s at the bottom of Sunset park, only reachable by the N and R. It is up on the second floor of some huge, half empty warehouse space that is very difficult to find. On top of that, it is enormously dusty. REALLY – don’t go if you have allergies. The vendors are miserable with the poor turnout and the dust and some are not sure if they will make it through the winter. I thought for sure that because the Brooklyn Flea people owned Berg’n, it would be a permanent space. Terribly disappointing that it is not.

You want Smorgasburg, but it’s one of the coldest days on record? You go to Brooklyn Flea. Admittedly, I was bummed because I had such cool things about Smorgasburg and didn’t really think about the fact that it’s hard/​impossible to have an outdoor event during NY winters. But it’s fine because I didn’t come hungry anyway so I would have missed out on a lot more food (though I am still sad I missed out on some really great food options here).
It’s an interesting market and I certainly had fun rummaging through the vintage and antique items. I picked up a really cool vintage Crayola crayon box from one of the antique shops. My favorite shop was definitely Wrecords by Monkey. A gentleman referred to as Monkey up-​cycles old records into jewelry, clocks, and other miscellaneous accessories. The designs are nice and I like the products. I purchased a couple bracelets and I love them. They’re sturdy, waterproof, and unique.
I would definitely make my way back if I’m in the area during the winter.

This is more of an upscale flea market than what you might think of a typical flea market with cheap things to buy. I would say it’s like a giant antique/​vintage garage sale.
The building is not tricky to find at all, it’s like a giant warehouse. You walk in and you think it’s underwhelming because it’s just some food vendors set up in the warehouse with some tables. But once you go through the back door into another giant room with all these fun vintage things to shop for, it’s like a giant hustle and bustle! It’s amazing, really. So many things to check out! Clothes, books, jewelry, records, old maps of New York, candles, home goods! You name it, they probably have it. I even found old issues of Scientific American from the early 90s. It’s amazing how everything looks together, too. Baubles and knick knacks, I don’t know how they pull it off with all the vendors and things for sale, but it works.
Outside of this room, there’s also a big beer hall (Berg’n) here with more food. I didn’t feel like drinking at 11 AM, but hey! no one’s stopping you. They have a GREAT craft beer selection on tap here from what I looked at on the menu.
I tried the Queen Cobra Thai food set-​up in the first hall. I really enjoyed what I got: the tom yum noodles. I’ve never had rice noodles in tom yum soup before, but really liked it! There are so many different types of food here: thai, vegan, burgers, seafood, doughnuts, beer, pork (yes, literally a table set up for pork things!), filipino, etc.
This place is great. If you don’t find something you enjoy here, you are probably extremely picky, because there is literally something for everyone.

Pretty cool place. A friend took a few of us that were visiting the city for the weekend to this place. According to my friend who is LA flea market expert, this is not your typical flea market in the sense that it sells mostly artisan craft items. So yeah lots of cool, interesting quirky things rather than whatever typical flea markets sell. Lots of random stuff like plants, used toys, clothing, maps, pots, etc. Pretty much anything that you could possibly imagine.
They also have a few of the Smorgasburg food vendors here, but nothing like their usual food line up. Apparently the same company runs both things which is pretty cool. It’s just in this super large indoor area. If you’re just browsing and looking to see something new, then it’ll be fun or if you like looking at craft items, you’ll probably dig this place. Otherwise it’s nothing super exciting.
tldr; more of an artisan crafts fair which is cool

I guess it matters what a flea market is to you. If when you think flea market, you think bins of items from $ 1-​$ 5, random old clothes, random old everything, cheap kitchen items, etc. then Brooklyn Flea is not for you.
But, if you like an antique market — with old vintage items that have been restored, with some hand made items, old first edition books, and fancy food truck style food, then Brooklyn Flea is the place for you.
It’s just a bit expensive, and more fancy than flea.

I much prefer the summer venue. It feels more open, and it appears to accommodate a larger number of food stands. In fact, I was a little shocked by the dearth of food options at the Dean Street location. Hence this 4-​star review. My experience was salvaged by Solber Pupusas’ sample platter (featuring a chicken pupusa, sweet corn tamale, platanos, and chorizo) and Dough’s toasted coconut donut. So, don’t get me wrong: I did find yummy goods to eat, but I felt like those were the best and only options, unfortunately. When I go to Smorgasburg, I expect to be veritably overwhelmed with choices, not limited to the only exotic stand of the bunch!
On a more positive note: The flea market itself offers just what you’d want when frequenting such an establishment: miscellany galore. What a fun diversion on a cold winter’s day!
Final comment: I like that the coat check is only $ 1.

Looking for a fun activity to do in the midst of winter — look no further than the indoor version of Brooklyn Flea & Smorgasburg! A huge warehouse that is half marketplace and half food stalls with a row of picnic benches and huge tree-​stump type resting posts in between. The two words collide quite nicely in this tucked away location. Come if you are looking to sample different foods from lobster rolls to filipino food, papusa to donuts, tacos, bao, and more. Once you’re done filling your appetite, shed some poundage from your wallet by parusing through their stalls. I happen to go on a weekend featuring a mini record fair — vinyls everywhere! Definitely a hip, fun, amusing place to spend a weekend with friends. It’s also really refreshing to see this kind of activity in the Crown Heights/​Prospect Heights area!

I was skeptical about the Indoor Market, but was pleasantly surprised. When the flea is held outdoors it does have a better flow, but they make excellent use of the space that they have. You see all the fun and interesting vendors. On our past trip we purchased a rose gold bracelt and a bowling pin (to be used for hocket target practice). All the vendors are always so nice and their merchandise is always interesting.
They do a good job of having the nfood seperated and have lots of tables. We had a doughnut from Dough and some grilled cheeses & shakes from Milk Truck (I love the Lionel Richie album cover sign).
Parking as others have said is not as bad as you would think (even when plowing around the neighborhood is pretty terrible). Its a little longer hike if you are driving but just like the outdoor market you will have a great time.

In the winters the Brooklyn flea market teams up with Smorgasburg & moves indoors to a large warehouse. Don’t let the obscure entrance fool you — once inside you will be ensured of an afternoon well spent browsing the large collections of books, furniture and home décor finds.
Now the Brooklyn flea is not a 100% flea market — so expect to find items ranging from $ to $$$$$.
Here are some of the vendors I enjoyed meeting and enjoyed checking out their wares:
– Windsor Place Antiques: for quirky art and vintage finds
– Jessica DeCarlo jewelry: asymmetrical eclectic jewelry pieces starting at $ 30
–Brittania Antiques: one of a kind vintage pieces
– Flux Productions: for beautiful leather backpacks ($ 300+)
– C&C pop up shop: interesting lamps & tea cup candles
– Susanna Thompson: she makes really cool jute backpacks ($ 100) and bags — must check out + she’s a really nice person!
– Even James Interiors: fabulous furniture from the past refurbished for today.
Now onto the food: Vegetarians and vegans will be thrilled with the options — definitely try the Thai/​Filipino fare and the beetroot burger. Both were excellent. The weekend we visited, there weren’t many food vendors, but still we had enough choices. A couple of regulars told me they swear by the lobster mac and cheese, so will try that next time.
Tip — the rest rooms upstairs in the beergarden are cleaner than the ones down in the market.
Unfortunately after reaching the market, I started feeling under the weather and wasn’t able to take many photos — but promise to do so next time.
Also street parking is a huge pain, so be prepared.

Went this weekend for the first time. It’s indoor so it’s warm, you can check you coat for $ 1. Oddly when my friend got his coat back from the coat check the coat was freezing, like it had been outside.
This is a very large flea market and industrial space. This is not the type of flea market you go to and find a great old worn piece of furniture that needs some tender care. The booth owners at this flea market have already gone to those flea markets for you, found those old worn down pieces full of character, refurbished them, and are now selling them accordingly. Similarly, there and booths of vintage clothing, presumably collected at various thrift stores over long periods of time, and again are priced accordingly.
I may be back if I’m in the area, but my favorite part of flea markets is the hunt for that old worn down gem of a piece that needs some lovin’.

Finally you see what Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby envisioned. And I’m not talking about the sadistic and fun things they plan to do with the boat loads of money they’re making off of this place.
This is the final vision of The Brooklyn Flea, Smorgasburg and Berg’n combination, and it works. It works on so many levels. Literally, every level or floor in this establishment has it going on.
It’s a huge combination of everything you’ve ever loved about all these places, in a sleek, clean setting, with lots of actions going on all around you. You come in, grab a cup of joe, listen to some DJ action going on. Venture through the flea market.
Like always there are your favorites. Mine is always Dan’s Parents House. Where else do you get vintage junk like this? Opening up that old pack of basketball cards, and hoping for that Michael Jordan rookie. Or maybe you find some obscure toy that brings you back to your childhood.
There lots of things to find. Some people selling new stuff, some selling old stuff. Some selling new stuff, pretending it’s old. I always love hitting up the books. You can find some old classic gems in there. The records are always sweet, if you know someone with a record player.
Great spot to go with your friends or significant other. While one is busy looking at jewelery or clothing they’ll never purchase, the other can look at giant outdated maps and globes, they’ll never purchase. People do love buying wooden letters though, those are a gold mine.
After you’re done shopping, grab a snack or some artisanal products. They got everyone’s favorite doughnuts from Dough. Lots of good products for sale. I just snagged some truffle oils and salts. Then snagged some premade Old Fashioned mixer from Cocktail Crate.
Then you can play some ping pong, get from drinks, get some pinball action going on and start eating. The options are endless. My favorite is always Red Hook Lobster. That downeast bisque is amazing! You also have all the the Berg’n staples are your will, as well.
This makes for a fun and satisfying Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

A great place to spend your Sunday afternoon! There are plenty of shops at Brooklyn Flea and most things are quite ridiculously expensive, but it’s fun to look at. Lots of vintage toys, jewelry, clothes, furniture, home goods, plants, art and knickknacks. Anything you can imagine really.
I didn’t expect this place to be so huge, nice and not crowded! It’s nothing like summertime smorgasburg. There’s a big space for shopping, then a small space for pre made food like baked goods, macarons, horseradish and salt water taffy. Then there’s a larger food area with hot food with more seating. There was a photo session for Christmas going on too. For $ 5 you can sit by a «fireplace» and wear their Christmas sweaters. There’s also two free ping pong tables. THEN, there’s the upstairs which leads you to Berg’n and more food shops like Mighty Quinns, Asiadog…
Also, Gooey and Co. is a must try! So moist and delicious!

I was pleasantly surprised, and a bit skeptical, when I discovered that the Brooklyn Flea was going to open in my neighborhood.
I’ve been a big fan of the Brooklyn Flea in its locations at One Hansom Place[1] and at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, and this new location at 1000 Dean Street did not disappoint.
Occupying a huge space on the same block as Berg’n, the space is infact linked internally with Berg’n, the space is, in fact, owned by Eric Demby and Jonathan Butler, founders of Brooklyn Flea, Smorgasburg, and Berg’n. The 140,000-square-foot space is inside the former Studebaker service station, a historic commercial building from 1920 recently converted into office space[2].
This building originally was a service station for Dodge and Plymouth cars and trucks. In the 1940s it became the Studebaker Service Station, and by the late 1950s it became a furniture warehouse. In the 1980s it was converted into a storage space, and part of it was later abandoned.
30 years and $ 30 million later, the location is now gorgeous: extremely spacious, it hosts many of the same vendor that I have seen at One Hansom Place, but without the claustrophobic feeling you inevitably experienced at that location. Plenty of light is provided by large glass windows on the roof, and the space is completely open, occupied only by large, monumental columns.
If you are familiar with the vendors at One Hansom Place, you will recognize many of them: beautiful industrial-​inspired furniture made of reclaimed wood and metal, old maps and signs, handmade jewelry, vinyl records, vintage glass frames, etc… In many ways it all reminds me more of what 3^rd Ward used to be than the flea itself.
There are lots of food options here, ranging from pupusas from Red Hook, to Red Hook Lobster Pound, to many many more. Moreover, there is plenty of seating available in the food vendors area, which is the size of a football field. And other things the flea also offers a $ 1 coat check, and a baby stroller parking area.
I’m not a fan of Berg’n and its overpriced offering and small pours, but I’m a big fan of this flea, which alongside the office space created in a previously abandoned building, brings value to the neighborhood.
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[1] the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower is just one of the most amazing buildings in the city, and the flea gave everybody the possibility to visit that space, for free.
[2]

This is truly a NYC must-​do, and the winter, when this location is open, is a fine time to do it, as it works well as an indoor activity, as well.
Sure, the tables are a little crowded, and there are lots of people, but that’s the way NYC is, and there are not as many densely packed areas with as many fun things to look at and purchase.
In terms of the food, it’s really a great destination to try all the buzz-​y foods. Check out Dough for an amazing donut and the ramen burger and the whiskey cookie… basically, eat as much as you can. (If you come with a group, it’s best to «divide a conquer» your food stations, as it can get crowded and is best to just rejoin at a table and share. That is, if you can get a table.
I wish the food stands had more drink options, but you can bring your own.

Such a great place to be on the weekend if you’re looking to make a few hours fly by. I appreciate them moving the market indoors for the winter since it can get so cold! My sister and I probably spent 3 hours just browsing around the market.
We decided to get a hibiscus donut from the Dough stand and it was probably one of the best donuts I’ve ever had. The flavor was so unique and delicious and the donut was light and fluffy. I finished my donut and all I felt was satisfaction, instead of the gross regretful feeling.
The collection of sellers was so unique. There were lots of vintage items, clothes, pictures, interior decorations, and so much more! There was also a big part set aside for food. Unfortunately since my sister and I were trying to save our appetite for dinner that night, we didn’t get to try many of the things at Smorgasburg. I guess that means we’ll just have to take another flight out there soon!

Much food. So hip. Admission is free & it gets pretty busy in here.
Fantastic atmosphere & so many different booths!
There were booths selling furniture, antique toys, clothes & so much more!
If I lived in New York, I would decorate my apartment solely from things purchased from this flea market! I could spend all day in here, if I had the time & money! Every booth is uniquely different from the others!
The food is amazing too! The hibiscus donut from Dough, and the salami samples that we got were delicious! What a beautiful way to spend a day.
Came out with a few metal stamp blocks, postcards, full bellies & big smiles on our faces!

We made it on a late Saturday afternoon. Parking was found right out front and that started off the day on a high note.
We hadn’t eaten yet so we set off in search for the food first. Also, it’s the first thing you see and smell as soon as you walk through. Hard to resist…
Pork belly adobo. It was really very good, but as it was the first dish, I was pretty disheartened that I could only have a few bites if I wanted to fit the rest of what we haven’t tried in. Somewhere from the corner, friend strolls over with some kind of torta sandwich, that again I could probably have finished but would’ve limited me on anything else. So a bite of this, a bite of that, still excited, we went onto some scallion pancakes and the ramen burger. The scallion pancakes were good but the ramen burger, it didn’t really do anything for me. The flavors just didn’t really form very well together… Again, just an opinion since I’ve heard others rave about it. It was okay, but I would’ve been happier finishing off the adobo bowl personally.
As for the flea market. Well, it’s a flea market. They have trinkets, clothing, fur coats, crazy hats, frayed rugs, and while none of us adopted any of those things, it was a great way to spend a few hours doing something different.
I can’t wait for the spring and summer so we can take another trip back for the outdoors. But the winter smorgasburg is definitely worth checking out. Even if it’s just to people watch.

The Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg have moved in together for the winter, and both are WAY better for it. The warehouse they’re using is much bigger than the outdoor flea, and they’ve used the extra space to bring in a bigger variety of vendors both for food and goods.
The normal flea of course has the appeal of being outdoors by the water, but I feel like I’ll be visiting the winter market more often since they didn’t just add more of the same vendors. I went last weekend and there was one table that was just Turkish towels and blankets, much more interesting than another person selling $ 100 wall tiles and commemorative plastic cups from 1965.
LOVE the new food area, especially the Taiwanese beef roll guy. Open Saturday + Sunday 10am-​7pm through March, check it out!

This place is awesome, and there is definitely something here for everyone to enjoy!
This is not your typical flea market, so don’t come in here expecting to find pieces that are on the cheaper side. Their vendors resell unique vintage pieces or handmade items that start off pretty steep. It is definitely a fancier flea market, but very enjoyable to stroll through to enjoy different pieces.
There is a ton of food vendors there as well. It’s hard to choose where to eat. The indoor market is pretty big, and food vendors are dispersed throughout the area. There is an upstairs area with a larger seating area, so it definitely gets packed. The market offers a variety of food types from strictly vegan vendors to seafood places, and even a beer garden (Berg’n).
I hope to come here again when they move it back outdoors for the spring and summer. Great place, great food, great atmosphere!