Public Goods Market/Bazaar near Stadium/Shipyards

[rjp2008]

What would bring people downtown to shop faster than a lightning bolt? Offer the same name brand stuff that
SJTC is selling at lower, bargain prices in a free-wheeling, fun, all weather public bazaar environment near the Stadium!.

Independant merchants (not thieves mind you) can buy, sell/trade bargain electronics, consumer goods, DVDs, computers, phones, name brand clothing, etc. Use either the containers idea or copy RAM and set up booths under the Hart Bridge just like RAM's Fuller Warren!

Think FILENE's Basement or a NY City Flea Market. Maybe it's every Friday evening 2 - 10pm. RAM handles all the art, food and crafts angle. Since this is the INDUSTRY side of Jax, it would offer goods and merchandise at better than department store prices. Yeah, there's Marshalls and Flea Markets, but this would BETTER. You could negotiate, barter. Kids could play at the park nearby.

I want to be able to go downtown and get the LOWEST price around for a phone charger, electric toothbrush, shoes, car detail stuff that regular stores could never do because of distribution/middle men costs.

Legalities? Security? Sure that would have to be worked out I don't know all that would be involved.

What do you think? Gimme ideas, objections, obstacles...

[thelakelander]

Honestly... DT needs to become it's own unique self sustaining mixed use neighborhood first.

[rjp2008]

The Rose Bowl and Dodger Stadium are doing this once a month. Since Jacksonville just built a BASEBALL PARK and ARENA, this would be a TERRIFIC idea.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/07/19/grand-opening-l-flea-market-dodger-stadium/

Creating a public market creates JOBS for people living nearby downtown! Independant jobs, too.

[rjp2008]

Do this once a month in Jacksonville at the Stadium parking lot/Superbowl area.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/18/image/la-ig-shopping-20100718

[fieldafm]

They do a 'Whale of a Sale' event once a year at the Fairgrounds.

I don't see a giant flea market as solving downtown's problems, sorry to say.
Jax has quite a bit of flea markets around town as it is... Blanding Blvd, Beach Blvd, Pecan Park, Ramona, etc etc

[vicupstate]

If done right, (i.e. good quality, legal, stuff and not a tacky atmosphere) it would be a positive thing. 

It should not supplant the need for DT to become the mixed use neighborhood that Lake mentions though.

While it would give people a reason to come DT, it would be drive-in/drive-out just like events at the stadium tend to be, so the spinoff/snergy with DT would be very limited, IMO.   

[rjp2008]

Mixed use won't happen until more people are buying/selling/eating downtown. People wont live downtown until there is more activity. Vendors wont lease space because it's too expensive for little return. So lease cheap street space to attract independant sellers.

LAURA STREET FRIDAY FLEA MARKET

Fridays 12 - 7pm.
Allow street vendors on sidewalks
Maybe no cars on Laura for that time

Bread, flowers, music and art at Hemming is not enough. You want people with MONEY spending down there. Let's see phones, watches, clothing, shoes sold on the street and more people will come, creating an urban economy.