Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. With summer in full swing, Broadway Stages is featuring and celebrating exceptional people, businesses, and organizations that make New York City a great place to spend the warm weather and sunny sky season. This week, we take in the Brooklyn Flea Market!

The Brooklyn Flea Market is so much more than a shopping trip. As the New York Times says, it is "One of the great urban experiences in New York."

Located in DUMBO on the cobblestone streets beneath the DUMBO Archway, this must-see attraction was the brainchild of Eric Demby (the former communications director for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz) and Jonathan Butler, the creator of Brownstoner Magazine.

Since its creation in April 2008, Brooklyn Flea has grown into one of New York City's top attractions. The success of the Brooklyn Flea spawned the famous food festival Smorgasburg. This giant all-food market launched in May 2011 and happens on Saturdays in Williamsburg and Sundays at Prospect Park's Breeze Hill. You can read more about Smorgasburg in next week's Spotlight blog. And in 2020, they resurrected the Chelsea Flea Market which had recently been shuttered after 40 years.

Visiting the Brooklyn Flea is a journey into a sea of vendors. Vintage clothing, collectibles, antiques, and even furniture will appeal to connoisseurs of nostalgia. While others may be drawn to the tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers.

Past vendors have included Van der Most Modern's mid century Dutch furniture, Dan's Parents' House with tchotchkes and oddities, yesteryear ceramics, and Joan Van Hees' selection of throwback apparel.

As one patron said on Yelp, "Fun accessories, cool decor, and junk food stands are some of the things you'll find here. I've passed through a few times and don't always pick something up, but the shops are always interesting, and I enjoy chatting up the shopkeepers as well. It's fun to talk to the artist or creator of the piece you're looking at, and they're pretty much always looking to give you a deal that makes it impossible to walk away-pretty win-win! The area is great, and the location is obviously super cool right next to/under the bridge."

Another on Google Reviews said, "Wonderful flea market in Brooklyn. Great and unique selections. They have so many interesting booths and sellers. The building in front of the bridge has some great booths, too. It's worth a visit. We wandered through clothes sellers, record vendors, comics sellers, and some things that are beyond easy description. Recommended!"

Brooklyn Flea is open every weekend from April through December, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Pets are welcome! Vendors accept cash, and many accept debit or credit cards. But if you need, there are ATMs on site. Before you go, you may want to check their Instagram or Facebook pages. They often post about cool events, such as concerts and apparel customization, that you won't want to miss.

Broadway Stages loves that we live and work in one of the world's best cities. We know that New York City not only offers quantity but also quality in its attractions. Travel + Leisure, Country Living, Budget Travel, and Fodor's have all ranked Brooklyn Flea as one of the best markets in the U.S. and the world. And Time Out NY named the Flea one of New York's Essential Pick-Up Spots. So, don't hesitate. Check out the Brooklyn Flea this weekend. And when you do, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!