Where do Pittsburgh hipsters thrift?

September 20, 2013 9:45 AM

I'd like to try setting up a small booth in a Pittsburgh flea market or antiques mall, but where?

Over the last several months I've been collecting a selection of items that I'd now like to try and sell. My booth would focus mainly on items I've acquired at school surplus auctions, such as vintage AV projectors, card catalogs, home ec textbooks, globes, school desks, etc. Because I live an hour and half away I'd like to set up a booth in a place that handles the actual purchases in exchange for a percentage of the sale, antique mall-style.

I'm looking for either recommendations of particular shops or just neighborhoods/streets where Pittsburgh hipsters might go to browse on a Saturday morning.

posted by MsMolly to Shopping (7 answers total)

Finding a space on Butler Street in the PGH Lawrenceville neighborhood would be my recommendation. There are already some vintage furniture/clothing places on that street too. There used to be a flea market called Little Flea in a empty lot which would have been perfect, but unfortunately it shut down. I wonder whether it would be possible to bring something similar back? I definitely spent a lot of money there and got some rad stuff.
posted by amileighs at 9:59 AM on September 20, 2013

Agreed Lawrenceville is the immediate thing that jumps to mind, though I have no leads on a specific location.

I've been seeing some flyers around Shadyside/Oakland last week or so for some kind of upcoming bazaar, but haven't checked them out closely. I will investigate on my bus ride home and see if it might be appropriate for this, and return with information if it is.

Once upon a time Carson St. on the South Side was an excellent place for a good vintage clothing/housewares hunt on a Saturday morning. I get the sense that time is in the past (at least, I know the vintage store with the excellent welcoming cat is gone), but it might still be worth an investigation.
posted by Stacey at 10:07 AM on September 20, 2013

Maybe the Pittsburgh Public Market?
posted by punchtothehead at 10:14 AM on September 20, 2013

I Made It! Market sends out a nice newsletter with lots of useful information and also lists opportunities on their website.
posted by notquitemaryann at 11:53 AM on September 20, 2013

oh, right... obviously their emphasis is on people who craft their own stuff, but a sizable portion of the listings and events aren't for crafters only.
posted by notquitemaryann at 11:55 AM on September 20, 2013

There's a "garage" market in the Strip District, on Liberty & 20th, northeast corner of the intersection (visible here). It's open wide to the numbered street, with a regular doorway open to Penn. Several small booths in there.
posted by IAmBroom at 9:53 AM on September 24, 2013

Thanks everybody! I might take a drive up this weekend and check some of these out.
posted by MsMolly at 10:27 AM on September 26, 2013