The popular Long Island City flea market will celebrate its grand re-opening for the 2014 season on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 at the same outdoor lot by the waterfront at the corner of 5th Street and 46th Avenue. Items for sale at the market include food and drinks, collectibles, antiques, arts and crafts, fashion and more.
This season, many LIC Flea favorite vendors are making their comeback and are excited to hit the outdoors once again.
Rich Nieto, owner of Sweet Leaf, said he is excited to sell his signature iced and hot teas and coffees, with names such as voodoo child and rocket fuel, and pastries. A new item to the vendor’s list is roasted coffee sold by the bag to customers looking to take a piece home.
“We are certainly excited. I am excited with anything that will bring the warm weather around,” said Nieto, who is also looking forward to participating in the up-and-coming Astoria Flea & Food at Kaufman Astoria Studios in May.
Butcher Bar’s Matthew Katakis shares the same excitement and says he can’t wait to start selling his barbecued meats at LIC Flea. The Astoria butcher shop/restaurant is expanding its 37-08 30th Avenue location to 37-10 30th Ave.
“We love the community feel and the opportunity to work in a neighborhood other than Astoria,” Katakis said. “It’s just the cool experience of being outdoors and being able to bring the barbecue out to the people. Smoking our ribs is a lot of work when we present it outdoor because we have to get everything ready the night before. We love doing that because we don’t have that type of smoker in the store, so we will have to deal with some ‘serious barbecue.’”
Some other returning vendors include Vint & York, Latif, Oconomi, Bills Balls, The Nomad Truck, Imran Jewels, Luke’s Lobster, Jam Jar NY, J&L Farms, and many more.
LIC Flea will also welcome brand new faces to its vendors list with items ranging from falafels to soaps.
John Calderone of Mir Burger will be selling food based on international cuisines, including flavored burger sliders and veggie salads.
“I am looking forward to being outdoors and meeting a lot of people,” Calderone said. “I enjoy these types of opportunities. The energy is much higher and people will be much more enthusiastic.”
Lauren Zito is also looking forward to launching her business at LIC Flea with gourmet bagel bites known as Zito’s Bites.
“I decided to participate because I wanted to be involved within the Long Island City community and I also thought it was a good place to start my business,” Zito said. “I am excited because it will be a great event and I am also looking forward to getting feedback from customers to improve my business.”
Other new vendors include Kimchi Smoke, Robicelli’s, Sara Jenny Fries, King of Falafel & Shawarma, Grateful Bread Company, Vintage-Dealers Choice Jewelry and Nyan Soaps.
LIC Flea & Food will run every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Applications are still being accepted for the new season by registering online at www.licflea.com.
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