De Anza Student Government hosts its mini flea market at the main quad, a tinier version of the monthly flea market, on March 11 at 11 a.m.
“The purpose of this is to promote our Saturday Flea Markets,” said Kaitlynn Chen, 19, chemical engineering major and Flea Market Liaison. “We want to let people on campus know that we have this activity every month. So people on campus would be aware of it and not just people from outside.”
Compared to the monthly flea market, which occurs every first Saturday of the month and has over 300 vendors. The Mini Flea Market reoccurs once a quarter, only assigning around 15 of the six-month vendors from the monthly Flea Market.
“Unfortunately for this one, we didn’t exceed 14 (vendor applications),” Chen said. “I haven’t had the chance to filter through any if there were more.”
“It’s great,” said Ray Schumann, a vendor at the mini flea market said he enjoyed being a vendor.
“I didn’t know this existed,” Schumann said. “I have been doing this over 30 times, but the mini flea market is my first time.”
Schumann vended at the Mini Flea Market on behalf of The Palestinian-American Learning Society from Silicon Valley.
Schumann’s tent displays multiple flags from around the world, including a large flagpole flying the Palestinian flag.
Their table offers items made in Palestine; books from Palestinian authors — many of which are also written by Jewish people of the area, alongside Christian and Muslim authors — keffiyehs, soaps, glassware, shoes and traditional slippers made in Bethlehem.
They bought them directly from merchants and artisans in the region, where they made them by hand. Like the shoe they are selling, which is made by an Italian artisan who travelled to Palestine, and helped show people there how to make handcrafted shoes.
“We just bring it out here,” Schumann said. “And have people see the culture, see the products and see the peaceful, good loving people that exist on both sides, both Israeli and Palestinians.”
While other tents display ceramics, jewelry and clothes, Jonathan Hammer differentiates from the other vendors as he sells collectible toys, which attracted a large crowd of students in the main quad.
“It’s not unusual,” Hammer said about attracting young people to his stall. “It’s pretty crowded for today as well.”
Jonathan Hammer has been a regular vendor for the monthly Flea Market as he has had a six month stall for about 20 years.
“I started (bringing collectibles) with Hot Wheels in the mid 90’s,” Hammer said. “I was selling things I could buy from the local auction house.”
His stall is filled with Funko Pops, board games, legos, Star Wars action figures and more.
“I’ve done almost all of these (Mini Flea Markets),” Hammer said. “I missed one because they didn’t give me an update until the day before. And I didn’t know if I had gotten in.”
These vendors, will also be at the Flea Market on April 4, in parking lots A and B.
