The wait is finally over, Astoria!
Astoria Flea & Food at Kaufman Astoria, a partnership between the LIC Flea and Kaufman Astoria Studios, is opening this Sunday, May 4.
The city’s first-ever backlot market, which was announced two months ago, will bring the community the best in food vendors, antiques, collectibles, art, crafts, fashion and much more.
The Astoria Flea will be located in the studio’s outdoor lot, the first of its kind in New York City, which opened up in December at 36th Street and 35th Avenue.
“It will be a great place to experience in one place all the amazing food offerings, artists, crafts and boutiques that have blossomed all around Astoria and throughout western Queens,” said Tracy Capune, vice president of Kaufman Astoria Studios. “Having it on the back lot will allow people to see the Kaufman Astoria Studios campus, where you’re surrounded by all of this film history and the stages where shows like Orange is the New Black, Sesame Street and Alpha
Men are made. There isn’t another flea market like this in New York, or the country as far as I know.”
The market will operate every Sunday for eight consecutive weekends. Upon arrival at the Astoria Flea entrance at 35th Avenue, visitors will be welcomed by a brand-new 40-foot-high steel gate, designed by David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group.
Some vendors from the LIC Flea & Food, just a neighborhood away, will also set up a table at the Astoria Flea to offer the community the best in food, arts, clothing and much more.
Matthew Katakis, owner of Butcher Bar, has been an LIC Flea vendor favorite since it began last year. He will now bring his 14-hour smoked brisket and pulled pork, combination sandwich called The Monster and some other surprise items to the Astoria Flea, located just five blocks away from the Butcher Bar’s Astoria location at 37-08 30th Ave.
“We think the flea market is a good idea for the community in LIC and Astoria,” said Katakis. “It’s a great way to pass the day, meet new people, experience different cultures, types of food and vendors.”
The market, which is within walking distance from the M, R, N and Q train lines, is expected to act as an incubator to help promote and foster businesses along with the surrounding community.
“It will bring in people who have never been here before, but have maybe heard some of the buzz and have been wanting to check it out,” Capune said. “We expect people will roam and visit other stores and restaurants in the vicinity, so it will bring traffic to our neighbors in the Kaufman Arts District as well.”
Last month, Kaufman Astoria Studios, the Museum of the Moving Image and the Queens Council on the Arts announced the designation of the Kaufman Arts District, the first of its kind in the borough.
The Kaufman Arts District will span from 31st Street to the west, 34th Avenue to the north, Steinway Street to the east, and 37th Avenue to the south.
Vendors can apply to sell at the Astoria Flea at www.LICFlea.com. Updates are available through Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstoriaFlea and Twitter at @AstoriaFlea.
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