After months of waiting, the Eastland Mall open-air market relocation is getting going. The market was removed from its original site in February, displacing dozens of vendors from their line of income.
The city initially said a new location wasn't possible. A temporary location was found for the market in early July. The new, permanent location will open on Aug. 13 near the Matthews border on Galleria Boulevard.
The owner of the land is donating the site but vendors will still pay a $10 rental fee.
For some, it came as a surprise. Hector Vaca, an advocate for the flea market vendors, said he found out on social media.
“The most appropriate way is to not send it out in a tweet and surprise everybody," Vaca said.
Councilman Tariq Bokhari posted the news on Twitter, calling it a success.
Vaca said he and the vendors appreciate the work by Charlotte City Council but they have overall concerns with the plan. He said during a meeting with City Council that the space was deemed temporary, but the contract stated only an 18-24 month lease. Bokhari said it is permanent.
“The reason we talked about a lease of 18 to 24 months, it’s an initial term," Bokhari said. "And the ability things are running smooth for all parties.”
Vaca said there's not enough time for vendors to inform customers of the new location and they can't insure they will know where to go. Bokhari said the city will work with them and push the start date back if needed.
Vaca told WCNC Charlotte he and the vendors are hoping for a return to the original Eastland site. He said the Eastland development should be done at about the same time the extract for the new space expires. He said this gives them time to work with the city and move into the empty plot on the site.
“The 20 acres that were left by Tepper, the city should do the right thing and include the vendors in the negations," Vaca said.
The City of Charlotte hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the old Eastland Mall site on Aug. 3 with city leaders in attendance. Plans for the complex are still in motion, but the end goal is to include everything from hotels and housing to retail and restaurants.
Charlotte FC was previously expected to build a stadium on the plot as part of the project, but the plans fell through in July.
The Central Flea Market released a statement ahead of the groundbreaking, saying the development has "forcefully and unfairly ejected" the flea market. The statement also addressed Tepper Sports and Entertainment's decision to pull out of the Eastland Mall project, adding the land could be used for the flea market instead of relocating the flea market.
"As a diverse open air market, that serves multiple underrepresented and underserved communities, the Central Flea Market embraces and exemplifies the ideals and vision of the Envision Eastland initiative," the statement reads in part. "In addition to stimulating the local economy and creating jobs, the Central Flea Market, has for close to a decade been providing fresh produce, authentic international cuisine, and needed daily products at affordable prices for the local community. If the City of Charlotte, truly believes in the ideals of the Envision Eastland initiative, it must do the right thing and champion the return of the Central Flea Market to the place they have called home for close to a decade."
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