The annual automotive flea market at Burl’s Creek Family Event Park attracts thousands of people every year but there is a concern among the vendors.
Al Hykway says he’s been coming to the Barrie Automotive Flea Market for more than 30 years.
“I’m always looking to buy something, sell something or trade something. Today I’m looking to buy something for my 1947 Mercury.”
Hykway is like most of the people at the flea market – over 50 – and even though this year’s flea market has about 3,000 vendors and will attract more than 25,000 people a day, flea market president Don Hanney says there is a problem.
“The trouble is the older vendors are dying off and the younger ones don’t collet anything. If they do go to a garage sale and buy a bucket of parts they put it on Kijiji and don’t bother coming here.”
Some of the vendors say they worry that if younger generations fail to discover that flea markets like the one at Burl’s Creek are more than just about stuff – they might expire.
“Everything has a story. You know what I mean? And you can’t tell that on Kijiji or whatever,” says vendor Matt Kuypers.
Vendor Don McNeil says he wouldn’t know how to sell something online.
“I don’t even own a cell phone!”
Shoppers April Hutchison and Darren Scott were some of the youngest at the flea market on Thursday and say this event is about people and is unlike anything else.
“This definitely beats the computer 100%, although I love my iPad,” says Hutchison.
Evan and Tyler are shoppers who are in their teens and might be the youngest at Burl’s Creek on Thursday and say when they tell their friends about the flea market many have no interest.
“Some of them just shrug their shoulders and say what?”
Get more information on the flea market here.
