Montclair is bustling with weekly events and happenings, and this non-profit is giving locals another reason to support small businesses. Montclair Flea was first established in 2023 and is gearing up to host its first themed market of the year. This weekly flea market, which runs every Saturday and Sunday throughout May, June, and July, features over 50 local businesses and creators at Lackawanna Station, located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair. We had a chance to connect with Montclair Flea founder, Elise Pereira, to learn more about the organization’s mission. Read on to learn more about Montclair Flea and dates and themes for the 2025 season of markets.

Photo Credit: Montclair Flea

The Flea

With a mission of supporting and celebrating local, creative entrepreneurs and small businesses, Montclair Flea has run annually since 2023. After drawing in 40,000 people from last year’s holiday market at the newly reimagined Lackawanna Station, Montclair Flea has announced that it will host its first flea market event of the 2025 season on May 10th from 11AM to 6PM at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair.

Photo Credit: Montclair Flea

The market will run weekly on Saturdays and Sundays from May 10th to July 20th, with the exception of Memorial Day weekend and the weekend of July 4th. Some markets will be themed, featuring food trucks and over 50 local vendors selling vintage items, handmade goods, art, home decor, and more. Admission is free, and guests can expect to shop for one-of-a-kind finds.

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The schedule is as follows: 

• MOMclair, a Mother’s Day Market – May 10th + May 11th, from 11AM to 6PM
• General Montclair Flea – May 17th + May 18th, from 11AM to 6PM
• CLOSED for Memorial Day Weekend
• Vintage Vibes – May 31st + June 1st, from 11AM to 6PM
• Maker’s Only! – June 7th + June 8th, from 11AM to 6PM
• Rad Dads!, A Father’s Day ExtravaDADza! – June 14th + June 15th, from 11AM to 6PM
• General Montclair Flea – June 21st + June 22nd, from 11AM to 6PM
• General Montclair Flea – June 28th + June 29th, from 11AM to 6PM
• CLOSED for the July 4th Weekend
• General Montclair Flea – July 12th + July 13th, from 11AM to 6PM
• Vintage Vibes – July 19th + July 20th, from 11AM to 6PM

Behind Montclair Flea

Photo Credit: Montclair Flea

Elise Pereira is a former big-tech employee and current Montclair resident who decided she wanted to work toward something bigger. The result is Montclair Flea. “I founded the Montclair Flea over the summer [of 2023] as a 501c3 not-for-profit. I left my job in big tech and wanted to do something meaningful and tangible in our community,” Elise previously shared with The Montclair Girl.

Elise’s love for small business is nothing new. “I’ve always been passionate about the small business community and all things makers and vintage,” she said. Elise believes that this love began when she worked for Etsy many years ago, alongside her career-long focus on building culture and community within various companies.

 

Two years ago, Elise was inspired by the Brooklyn Flea to create an organization that not only provided a place for makers and sellers to vend but also supported business owners in multiple ways. “I had always wished we had something like Brooklyn Flea here in Montclair. I’d been dreaming about doing it for a few years, and since I finally had some extra time on my hands, I decided to just make it happen,” she shared.

Photo Credit: Montclair Flea

Montclair Flea hoped to support local businesses by providing a place to sell goods, meet potential customers, and connect with other business owners. Elise shares that providing resources to business owners is a priority of hers. “I knew that if I was going to create the flea, I wanted it to have a very specific focus on small businesses and what they uniquely need. So, while the markets themselves are how small businesses can be part of local commerce in a more accessible way, we also focus on community-building, education, and small grant awards.”

Elise once told MG that she hoped to make this a staple in the area. “My hope is for the flea to become part of the longstanding cultural fabric of Montclair. When people describe the culture of Montclair, you often hear, ‘It’s so vibrant and diverse — there’s a huge Pride celebration, Jazz fest, Film fest, and a bustling year-round farmer’s market.’ I want people to also say, ‘and an incredible flea market with the best finds and food from all over New Jersey,’” shared Elise several years ago.

Elise has accomplished just that, as Montclair Flea has taken place seasonally and, eventually, monthly since 2023.

Getting Involved

The Montclair Flea is the brainchild of Elise, but the effort is not possible without the support of the community. The organization has a Board filled with brilliant minds and community advocates, but there are opportunities for others to get involved as well. Elise believes that having many people involved will make the organization better. “I think the more voices and hands we have involved, the better the experience will be for our community,” she shared.

Those looking to get involved in volunteering and supporting the organization can sign up on the Montclair Flea website here. Elise also plans to lean on the support and partnership of previously established community organizations for an even bigger impact. “There’s so much potential to make Montclair the best place for artists and entrepreneurs,” Elise said.

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