From kitschy vintage finds and handmade leather goods to raw-juice-making lessons and a Florence and the Machine-inspired yoga class, this month's Cleveland Flea is not your average pop-up market — and that's just what founder Stephanie Sheldon intended.
On May 11 and every second Saturday of the month through November, visitors are invited to wander the blocked-off streets and lots surrounding the Copper Top Building at 6202 St. Clair Ave. Part urban treasure hunt, part food festival and part educational experience, the Cleveland Flea is an experiment in what creative collaboration can do for a neighborhood, she says.
"It's sort of a small business incubator," says Sheldon, who co-founded her small-business consulting group, Indie Foundry, with business partner Carrie Nardini. "It allows them to connect with the public and the community to engage with the makers themselves."
Sheldon launched the Cleveland Flea with the St. Clair Superior Development Corp. in February. This month's installment will include 60 vendors, food trucks and a beer garden. There'll be a clothing swap and personal style consultations as well.
"What I'm trying to do is always create something new," Sheldon says. "I want this to become a Saturday tradition."
