Buford Highway Flea Market

Meet: El y Ella Hair Salon

2011-09-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

El y Ella Hair Salon is owned and operated by Piedad Torres. Piedad was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to the US over eighteen years ago "As soon as I arrived, I got a job with a hair salon" more precisely at the Flea Market itself and she has remained here ever since. After working for several different salons in the market she gained the courage to buy one of the salons. Funny enough it was the same one she first started at.

El y Ella Hair Salon offers hair cuts for men, woman and children the also do hair tinting, highlights and special occasion hair styles

Contest Redux!!

2011-08-31T08:02:00.001-07:00

Just in time for the back to school rush, The Buford Highway Flea Market is throwing a contest to good to miss out on 200.00 in Buford Bucks that can be used at any store in the market. As you may know we have recently lauched our own Twitter and Facebook pages and we would like you guys to friend/follow us for a chance to win. Its just that simple.

Prizes:

We will be giving away 200.00 in Buford Bucks good for any booth in the market. One winner will receive 100.00 and 2 winners will receive 50.00 each. Contest runs from 8/08/11 to 9/30/11

How to Enter:

1. Go to our facebook page and like us = one entry

2. have a twitter account just tweet "I just entered to win 100.00 in @BufordHFM bucks RT and follow them to win" = one entry

3. Follow us on twitter = one entry

4. Follow our blog = one entry

Once you have followed the blog, facebook and twitter keep retweeting for additional chances to win, sound like some good odds to me. The contest will be kicking of today August 8th, 2011 and run through September 30th 2011 so you have plent of time to enter.

Meet: Mercería Monclova

2011-08-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

In keeping with our new tradition, this week I will be introducing you to another one of our vendors. Read there story and then come check them out in person at The Buford Highway Flea Market

Merceria Monclova is a mother daughter team, they have been in business since 1994 and were a part of the market for 14 years before taking a brief break. Now they have returned and will be celebrating there one year mark this October.

Evelia, the mother, learned her knitting and embroidery trade in her childhood years, at school, and also for a woman whom she gave care assistance to when she was only 13 years old. Evelua, the mother, learned her knitting and embroidery trade in her childhood years, at school, and from a lady to whom I used to take care of -at only 13 years old, in Sacramento, a little town close to the northern border. My first "great accomplishment" was my oldest daughter's "quinceañeras" dress, a great deal for us in Mexico. I of course did all my children's clothes.

Evelua's taught her daughter Evelia, the trade at the tender age of 7. She now is finishing her Criminal Justice degree, and decided to re-start the business with her mother at the Flea Market.

These two dynamic woman sell everything from threads, yarns do-it-yourself cross stitch and crochet as well as other traditional Mexican articles including traditional kids clothing. They also deliver and handle custom orders. Come check them out this weekend and see what they have to offer

It's Contest Time!!!

2011-08-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Prizes:
We will be giving away 200.00 in Buford Bucks good for any booth in the market. One winner will receive 100.00 and 2 winners will receive 50.00 each. Contest runs from 8/08/11 to 9/30/11

How to Enter:
1. Go to our facebook page and like us = one entry

2. have a twitter account just tweet "I just entered to win 100.00 in @BufordHFM bucks RT and follow them to win" = one entry

3. Follow us on twitter = one entry

4. Follow our blog = one entry

Once you have followed the blog, facebook and twitter keep retweeting for additional chances to win, sound like some good odds to me. The contest will be kicking of today August 8th, 2011 and run through September 30th 2011 so you have plent of time to enter.

Meet: El Becerro Western Wear #2

2011-07-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

In keeping with our new tradition, this week I will be introducing you to another one of our vendors. Read there story and then come check them out in person at The Buford Highway Flea Market

Jose Guadalupe Estrda fell into this business by accident. While working for someone that sold shoes he settled a debt with this man by accepting a large inventory of shoes. Deciding the best way to make his money back would be to sell them he set up shop in El Monte, California. After 16 strong years at that flea market things started to slow down and he was contemplating his next move. A wholesale merchant then invited him to visit Atlanta. When I walked in and saw that things were booming, then and there I decided to make my move to the Buford Highway Flea Market. I rented a both that day and now I occupy five spaces. After eight years hear, I could not be happier, more thankful or even more optimistic about this place. This business has allowed me to raise my family and secure my future.

When you visit El Becerro Western Wear #2 you will find a wide variety of wester wear and apparel. We carry items such as cowboy boots, cowboy hats and feature clothing that has the western wear feel to it. This is what the "raza" as we call our fellow immigrants like to wear and we offer them a spot that feels like home.

Take a closer look!!

2011-07-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Have you been curious about the Buford Highway Flea Market, well we have put together this great video that gives you the inside scoop. Walk the isles, see the products, shoppers and more. The market is a full on cultural shopping experience you can pick up amazing gifts from all over the world, get your hair cut and party with a clown. Don't just take my word for it... Watch the video

Meet: Souvenir Curio Shop

2011-07-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

There is best way to get to know some one is to listen to there story, you get a better idea of what they are really about. And we thought how great it would be for you to get to know some of the vendors at the Buford Highway Flea Market. Each week we will present you with a new vendor story... enjoy!

Jeremie Creste has been in business for 23 years, he first set up his booth space in August of 1988 and has been selling his exotic goodies ever since. Born in the French Guyana, in the city of Cayenne. I came to this country in 1977, to Cincinnati. I went to school there and then joined the army after I finished high school. I was in the army for 13 years and left being a captain. At the time I was stationed in Fort Bening (in Columbus, GA). After leaving the services I went on to travel for nine months, during which I fell in love with the wood carvings and oil paintings I saw , so I purchase a good size inventory and decided to start a business selling them. I came to Atlanta, because it was the closest big city, and it was a vibrant place to start my business.

When I first starting selling my items I wend downtown, but was told by other merchants that I would need a permit, when I went to obtain one the man told me "Man you should go to the Buford highway flea market, that's where you will sell your merchandise like crazy." So I did and I have been doing it for the last 23 years. I've been able to make a good living and give my family a home. I still feel as young as I did the day I started.

Currently we offer a wide variety of things. including a beautiful selection of religious motives, figures, and paintings like "The Las Supper", Virgin of Guadalupe, Virgin Mary, and so on. I also carry a good assorting of decoration lamps, and toys. But that is just a small example of what I sell. Basically you can be sure that you will be able to find a gift that will have your friends or loved ones amazed. You can find me in booth 314, the best known corner of The Market. My mechanical puppies we be happy to see you.

Hello, Again

2011-07-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

It was 1997 when I arrived to Atlanta and routinely I would take GA-400 going south. Traffic going south was then rather fluid though less lanes were open. And going north, especially if it was early in the morning, traffic was low and basically composed of caravans of double height old vans, packed with towers of ladders tied I don't know how with an infinite army of construction workers inside. The same spectacle could be seen all over the city's main highways. These were the vans that belonged to Hispanics rushing to their job sites: they were building Atlanta.

Hispanics had been arriving in herds since pre-Olympic times, they were rushing to comply with all the construction that was needed; venues, hotels, roads..., houses for the newcomers lured with cheap prices in a city exploding with well paid job offers of all types.

Their place of arrival was mainly Chamblee. The apartments were there and diversity was welcomed.

Soon they started to frequent the already established Buford Highway Flea Market, right there, in the heart of Chamblee, turning it into a "Mexican-Plaza" type of place. They would shop, mingle, get a hair cut, and have a delicious meal. It became home for them then, and keeps on being home for them today.

Yes money was pouring from their weekly construction jobs, and yes they would go to the Buford Highway Flea Market to spend it - after sending some home. Many successful merchants saw their start-ups flourish there, even the small ones, the ones with only one twelve by twelve booths! Many of them are still there, after 25 years, since the place opened its doors in what used to be a chain department store that closed it doors, leaving the space to see new life.

Today the Buford Highway Flea Market is not much different. It is still an amazing cultural experience for non-Hispanics; the noise is Hispanic, the music is Hispanic, the language of the customers is Hispanic, the delicious food is Hispanic, a place like no other. The Flea Market became a landmark for the Hispanic community that visit it weekend after weekend. Still a place where they buy, mingle, get a hair-cut, have a great meal, and have fun. Yes, the Payasita Chispita (clown) is now a staple that entertains equally kids and adults with all sorts of alternatives, including Karaoke contests, where you might see the next "Hispanic Idol" singing a wonderful ranchera. First it was mainly a male-macho crowd, the hat-mustache-boots one, but today it is them, their wives, and their English speaking children. They have planted their roots in the country, and the Flea Market is still their place.