Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market

i know vendors that try and sell at this market and they say it is impossible same people sign up ahead of time they need to open it up and give it some time as soon as they open it sells out with same vendors with same stuff and want top dollar versatility makes a good market get some new dealers people cleaning out there houses

A great place to spend your Sunday morning, it is loaded with NJ themed pieces created by local artists. I came here right after moving into my new apartment to pick out a few unique items and very much succeeded. Make sure to grab lunch at the food trucks after shopping all morning.

Punk’s not dead, you say? Well, not here anyway. Though I must admit this event was severely lacking good punk music. Honestly I think some music would’ve helped my equilibrium out, since all the chatter bouncing off the machine shop walls was making me really dizzy. Aside from that though, there’s a lot of cool vendors here.
Almost anything you can think of can be found here. You might have to dig, but it’s somewhere in there. You can get old vinyl albums, horror movie posters, antique jewelry or vintage buttons. If you’re a guy who wants a haircut, there’s even a barber peddling hair products who is willing to give you a trim. Need new clothes? Not only are there tons of new clothes for sale, but a thrift shop type vendor selling ‘ironic’ and old school finery you can wear on a trip to Brooklyn. Additionally there’s always a ton of food trucks to choose from, since you’ll probably spend at least two to three hours looking through everything in the main marketplace.
Is it expensive? Yeah. The fee to get in is kind of high and of course everything the vendors sell is pricey as well. However, I would still suggest checking this place out once. It’s surprisingly family friendly, so don’t let having a kid or furry pal stop you from coming (since both are allowed inside). It’s a very fun jaunt, at least.

Maybe I was expecting more options. Maybe I was expecting more reasonable prices. Whatever I was expecting, I wound up walking away empty handed. When I pay to get in to a place, I expect something a little more than what I was given. Even if I’m just handed a meal voucher. What I really look for is good prices, though. When people say flea market, they should be at flea market prices.
I know I’m cheap, and this review definitely makes me sound cheap. But for the size of the market, I was disappointed. I know they can’t control how much people are charging for their wares. I know when it’s specialized, you’re gonna have to pay a little more of a premium. But then why can’t they offer free admission? Or make these people pay more for a table. With the prices they’re charging, they can probably afford it.
I will say, though. Not nearly as bad as Strange Xchange in Montclair. They had about 7 vendors and charged the same just to get in the door.

what do you get when you cross a food truck festival with a real, live etsy and throw in a dash of garage sale, a pinch of live music, and a face painter for good luck? the m-​f-​ing trenton punk rock flea market, that’s what! just $ 4 to get in… totes worth it!
there were food trucks– a really great bunch of them, from the surf and turf truck with the BEST lobster I’ve had in a very very long time AND truffle fries! to dark side of the moo, a cupcake truck, a tater-​tot slingin tots truck, the soupman truck dishing out some much needed warmth, mac mart with some killerrrr mac and cheese, the taco truck, and even mod cup brewing fresh coffee and espresso draanks. hello, weekend binge! favorite bite of all was the lobster roll blt from surf and turf… giant chunks of lobster with bacon, truffle oil, citrus kale and cabbage. trust. mac and cheese from mac mart was a close second… and I don’t even like mac and cheese. don’t judge me.
there were super crafty vendors– from vintage finds (think old comics, maps, jewelry, etc.) to creative one-​of-​a-​kind artwork, there was something insanely cool anywhere you turned. jewelry made from fresh fruit. quaint needlepoint and signage with subtle punk-​rock undertones. license plate plaques and found-​object art installations and home gadgets. things for your pets. vegan sweets. paintings and art prints from various genres. beard balm. dandelion wish jewelry. reclaimed wood art. records and instruments. clothes and even unicorn horns. all-​natural soaps and scrubs. seriously, just about anything you could want. and lots of them took credit card, which was pretty sweet.
there were live events– glass blowing outside, which was super cool to watch, and a few performances by the city garden punk cabaret! i heard they did a post-​flea burlesque show at a nearby bar that evening too. dayumm. the face painter was incredible as well– some serious talent here!
major bonus points for supporting Eden Autism Services, too… $ 1 from every ATM transaction was donated, PLUS some proceeds after the event went to this awesome local non-​profit. YAY for doing good!
parking near the roebling machine shop was a breeze– huge free municipal lot within easy walking distance. public transportation options, too — trenton train station and the river line are crazy close. the roebling machine shop itself was a super cool space– though, it was cold (dude, mother nature… it’s spring! ease up on the snow, plz). to combat this, there were space heating towers throughout the establishment, yay. beware if you’re claustrophobic… the space was jam packed with vendors and shoppers, so navigating through the market was pretty tight in some spots. luckily, everyone was friendly and only a few people smelled bad. on that note, i’ll mention that the bathrooms weren’t terrible, and they weren’t porta-​potties so yay for that.
i cannot wait for the next edition of tprfm… coming in august

TPRFM happens 3 times a year at the Roebling Machine Shop. It’s a great event — tons of interesting vendors– art, vintage goods, jewelry, records, along with food trucks, music/​cabaret show, and good people watching.
Logistics– You can take nj transit or the River line and there is also free parking. Its also kid friendly. It’s $ 4 to get in, I think the money goes to a local non profit. If you’re one of the first people you get a free goody bag! The line to get in looks long but moves quickly.
Definitely recommend checking it out at least once! :)