For owner Jolene Owen, the recent opening of the Rockn J Flea Market on the corner of West Main Street and Henrietta Street in Amsterdam is the culmination of a vision that started almost ten years ago.
“This is a massive dream to take care of a hoarding passion,” said Owen with a laugh this past Saturday. “I just love having stuff, I love finding stuff, I like repairing stuff, and I like to resell stuff.”
Owen has spent the last year fixing up the previously vacant building and grounds to provide both indoor and outdoor spaces for vendors to sell used household or antique items. Last weekend was the first of four outdoor sales she plans to hold each month through November.
Fixing up the Hurricane Irene damaged building was not an easy task. Owen explained that although the mostly concrete and steel building is in good shape structurally, the large front doors were rotted and had to be replaced with solid cinder block walls. All the old electric wiring was pulled and replaced.
Currently, Owen is only utilizing a portion of the building, but plans to open up more space soon.
Rental fees for space inside the building range from $20 a month for a shelf on the wall, $55 a month for a 30 to 36 square foot space, to $120 a month for a 120 square foot space. Additionally, Owen is offering outside “junk in the trunk” spots for $15 on the first weekend of every month, where area residents can sell their items out of their vehicles.
The items for sale inside the Rockn J include everything from clothes, pet supplies, and other household items, to vintage furniture, dishes, pictures and other decorative pieces.
“You might find about anything here,” said Owen. “There’s something for everybody.”
“We’re always taking in suggestions,” she added. “People might stop by and say ‘I’m looking for trains, I’m looking for slot cars,’…We’re finding things for people, hooking them up.”
“I have people here who do house clean-outs, they do estate sales. We got about all things covered,” she said.
Owen said she also plans to offer fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms.
The Rockn J will be open on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm to 8pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Three more outdoor sales are planned for September 2 and 3, October 7 and 8, and November 4 and 5.
For more information, you can visit the Rockn J Flea Market website, or call (844) 219-3340.
