Sweetwater Flea Market set to en

Sweetwater Flea Market set to end 34 year run this month

Shane Duncan advocatedemocrat.com

The Sweetwater Flea Market is set to shut down at the end of the month, ending a three-decade tenure in the town.

According to officials, the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the flea market, playing a part in the decision to close it down.

Sweetwater Flea Market Manager Angela McNabb noted that the decision to sell the flea market came from a drought of customers and vendors.

“After COVID, we saw a decline in shoppers and vendors,” McNabb said. “A lot of people were doing online shopping from home and when the gas prices rose, we saw fewer shoppers.”

The flea market opened in November of 1989 and has remained open to this day.

Sweetwater official talks impact of flea market closure

Shane Duncan advocatedemocrat.com

A long-standing feature of the City of Sweetwater will be closing down at the end of the month.

Sweetwater Flea Market officials have made an announcement that March 31 will be the site’s final day.

According to Sweetwater City Recorder Jessica Morgan, the flea market is closing due to a new industry coming to Sweetwater.

“The flea market will be closing because they are being bought out by an industrial manufacturer,” Morgan said. “They are requesting rezoning right now, so their contract to buy the flea market is contingent on that rezoning going through ....”

Morgan stated the new industry hopes to hire 100 employees during their first year, 200 the second year and continue to grow.

“They are going to be well-paying jobs,” she stated. “They will be looking for welders and other types of skilled labor, so this is a good opportunity for Sweetwater.”

While the name of the business could not be disclosed, the industry involves trailer manufacturing for vehicles.

“It will be great to have another opportunity for people who have a skillset, particularly in welding,” she noted. “I think these will be good jobs. These gentleman have run very successful businesses in the past and we are looking forward to working with them.”

According to Morgan, the flea market has been a part of Sweetwater for many years.

“I know in recent years they have struggled to keep vendors compared to what they did in the past,” she said. “They have always been great to work with. They have had a lot of good business over the years and I know that a lot of small businesses are looking to relocate to continue their operations.”

The flea market has, for many years, been a tourist attraction for the city and will be missed, Morgan added.

“I know a lot of people get off the interstate out of interest in the flea market,” Morgan said. “It will be missed and we wish everybody involved in this endeavor the best of luck moving forward.”