Can WA’s largest open-air flea market rebound after concerns about ICE?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pasco Flea Market reopens Feb. 28 after steep vendor and customer drop.
- Rumors of ICE activity, not confirmed sightings, depressed attendance
- Some reported 75% income drops and 20% stand closures, hope customers return.
After a steep drop in vendors and customers last year, the Pasco Flea Market opens for the season on Saturday, Feb. 28 with vendors banking on a rebound.
Last year, where there were once hundreds of vendors, some areas were cleared out, raising concerns about the market’s future. It’s the largest open-air flea market in Washington state.
Rumors and fears about arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had some customers and vendors avoiding the sprawling 70-acre site at the east end of town.
Many of the market’s vendors and customers are Latino immigrants.
Fear hurts market vendors
Last summer, unconfirmed rumors blew up on social media that ICE had been spotted outside the Pasco market. While ICE has made arrests across the state, including in Pasco, the Tri-City Herald has not confirmed any activity or arrests at the market.
Markets in other cities have seen shops shutter and visitors decrease. There was a raid last June at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet outside of Los Angeles where federal agents detained two people.
And near Chicago, vendors at the Swap-O-Rama Flea Market have been struggling due to low sales. Federal agents detained 15 people there in mid-October, according to reports by WGN-TV.
Fear has also been bad for business at the Mercadome Flea Market in the Rio Grande Valley town of Alamo, Texas.
Business survival
Tri-Cities business leaders aren’t certain how busy the market will be this year or how many vendors will return.
Gabriel Portugal is the former president of the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
He told the Tri-City Herald that vendors still depend on the market for the survival of their businesses. Many of them have set up shop at the market for years.
Portugal heard from some vendors last year who estimated they were seeing just half as many customers and their income had fallen 75%.
That resulted in about 20% of the sellers having to close their stands, leaving them questioning if it’s worth their time and money to be there each weekend.
Vendors are counting on business picking up this year.
“It shows the resilience of our community,” he said. “Vendors are hopeful that people will come back.”
Portugal encourages visitors to attend the market starting this weekend. One benefit is that vendors sell products that customers can’t find in stores, he said.
“It’s a win-win for the customers and the vendors.”
Kyle Robinson manages the market. His father Bill Robinson opened the business on two acres in 1987 near the King City truck stop before moving the operation to the current lot. Kyle did not want to talk about the outlook of this year’s market season.
Hours at the Pasco Flea Market are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Saturdays are free and there is a $2 admission for adults on Sundays. The market is open through October.
