Watertown Daily Times | Vendors plan to re-open Canton flea market under new name; still need a permanent spot

Watertown Daily Times | Vendors plan to re-open Canton flea market under new name; still need a permanent spot:

CANTON — A group of vendors from the Canton Flea Market plan to re-open Saturday under a new name and with new people in charge.

The market will be called Classy Collectibles and for a few months will remain at the University Plaza, Route 11.

Dennis W. Kelly and his wife, Susette M., have agreed to organize the effort to re-open the market. They run Grandma’s Kids, a used children’s clothing business that has several booths in the market.

The flea market closed to customers July 26 when former operator Frank E. Monnett told vendors he was being evicted for putting a stop payment on his July rent check.

The plaza’s new owner, David C. Muraco, Empire Property Management, DeWitt, decided the market could stay temporarily if others stepped forward to replace Mr. Monnett.

Since then, a group of vendors has been holding meetings to figure out if they can keep the market operating in the plaza through the end of December. After that, Mr. Muraco said they may have to leave because he is seeking new tenants for the 40,000 square-foot space.

Mr. Kelly said the market has been condensed to 20,000 square feet and Mr. Muraco has agreed to reduce monthly rent from $5,000 to $2,500. Vendors will continue to be charged $150 a month per booth space.

Approximately 30 vendor booths moved out of the market in the past couple weeks, leaving about 50 booths, Mr. Kelly said.

Those include the used furniture store, It’ll Do, which was previously housed in a Route 11 building between Canton and Potsdam.

Mr. Muraco said keeping the market in the plaza for another few months will allow vendors to sell off more of their merchandise.

“Hopefully, it will be profitable for them,” he said.

Vacant space in the Midtown Plaza, Miner Street, that previously housed Jubilee grocery store has been mentioned as possible site for a permanent flea market.

Several vendors have contacted the building’s owner, Garry L. Cohen, New York City, about the idea.

However, Mr. Cohen said he wouldn’t be able to offer the low rent that vendors have received at the University Plaza. The building needs several upgrades, including new heating and air conditioning.

Mr. Cohen said he has been approached by someone interested in combining a retail business with some flea market booths.

“Someone from the north country has a retail idea that could include some booths,” Mr. Cohen said. “There might be a way of bringing something that’s an outgrowth of the flea market. It won’t be to the scale of what’s there now.”

Canton Economic Development Director Linda M. McQuinn said having a second flea market in the Midtown Plaza would be positive for downtown commerce. North Country Neighbors Too, a flea market operated by Timothy M. Connelly, and his wife, Cathy L., opened in May in that plaza.

“I don’t think you’d have duplication. I think you’d have greater variety,” Mrs. McQuinn said. “Commerce and competition go hand in hand. Any time you have an opportunity for commerce downtown it’s a good thing.”