At one time a business journalist, a vice president of a large Wall Street brokerage and a professional real estate blogger, Jonathan Butler — aka “Brownstoner,” after his Brooklyn-focused blog — is entering the world of retail real estate, organizing a weekly flea market in Fort Greene that will hold more than 100 vendors.
Early in September, Butler held a one-time market called “Salvage Fest” at the schoolyard of P.S. 11. Butler called on local salvage dealers to set up booths. Following that, Butler approached Councilwoman Letitia James, who had attended Salvage Fest, seeking to set up Brooklyn Flea, which would bring several thousand consumers to the area every Sunday. James helped Butler meet with officials at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, a Catholic school in Fort Greene whose 40,000-square-foot yard suited the market’s needs.
Butler started a Web site, www.brooklynflea.com, to fish for potential retailers at the Bishop Loughlin market. Butler said that as of press time, 80 retailers had expressed interest on the site, although the registration is not yet a binding agreement.
The space will have room for around 100 vendors; Butler said he wants to maintain some selectivity. He noted he will seek a mix of vendors, including vintage clothing, records, antique furniture and food. “I don’t want to have someone selling tube socks,” he said. “Quality control is going to be pretty key.”
This month, Butler will begin the task of actively seeking 20 to 30 anchor tenants for the market. As of press time, the tentative weekly prices for market space ranged from 75 cents per square foot for a 25-square-foot space to $2 per square foot for a 200-square-foot space.