Melrose Trading Post
There’s something so quintessentially “LA” about the Melrose Trading Post. Situated at the heart of Fairfax and Melrose, the flea market encapsulates the rich diversity and culture that the city so proudly boasts. Each Sunday, the market is packed with art collectors, fashion enthusiasts, and curious tourists, all looking for the best, and oftentimes, most obscure finds. The Melrose Trading Post offers everything from artisanal soaps, to hand-painted crafts. Frequent visitors have their favorite vendors, many of whom have been selling their goods at the Post for years. For some vendors, the Melrose Trading Post is a place to showcase a few of their latest creations, and for others, it’s their sole source of income. For those latter few, it is their entire lives.
The Melrose Trading Post isn’t like most flea markets. It’s less of a marketplace and more of an experience. Held at Fairfax High School, the market doesn’t quite feel like reality. Yes, there are tents and trucks and other traditional flea market aspects, but if you look closer, you’ll see that you’re literally in a high school, walking the same path that almost 2,000 students walk each week. But this doesn’t detract from the market’s eclectic personality.
Each item sold at the market tells a story. Lazaro’s hand-woven figurines tell the story of his immigration from Cuba, Judy’s used book collection reflects her time as a high school English teacher, and Mark’s neon painted jackets are the first of his up-and-coming denim line. Stories like these shift the dynamic between customers and vendors. At the Melrose Trading post, this relationship isn’t purely transactional; there’s a real story, with real emotion and real people behind each purchase.
But most importantly, the Melrose Trading Post is a culture. It’s a place where vendors and customers can express their artistic passions and experience the richness of an ever-evolving city. There’s a reason why the market is packed week after week. And even if you leave the Post empty-handed, the experience in itself is gratifying enough.
