Giant flea market opens today: Trader Marc's in Fort Mill hopes to nurture small businesses

Jul. 24--FORT MILL -- Get ready, bargain hunters: One of the largest indoor flea markets in the South opens today in Fort Mill.

Trader Marc's -- part flea market, part farmers market -- debuts at noon with around 70 vendors spread around a 318,000-square-foot warehouse off Interstate 77 across from Baxter Village that the owners hope will become a regional destination and launching pad for small businesses.

"It's going to be a great experience to browse through and see," said J.R. Pettus, one of the partners behind the venture.

Inside, shoppers will find rows of booths organized along corridors marked by street signs bearing names such as "Goldmine Ave.," "Treasure Alley" and "Trader Marc Blvd."

The usual flea market wares will be sold -- clothes, jewelry, collectibles and antiques -- but more distinctive items also will be available, such as homemade mustard. The farmers market portion features fresh produce, cut flowers and more, while a food court caters to shoppers with the munchies.

While other, more established flea markets in South Carolina boast hundreds more vendors, few if any can compete with Trader Marc's sheer square footage.

But having an indoor, climate-controlled building with excellent visibility and access from a major highway is perhaps the biggest reason Trader Marc's will stand apart from other flea markets to both buyers and sellers, Pettus said.

"This concept ... is going to be an excellent income opportunity for a lot of people," Pettus said, noting that many of the vendors are first-timers who have lost jobs or are otherwise in need of extra money to combat the recession.

Retiree Mark Mathiason, 66, of Charlotte is one of those first-timers. He'll sell jewelry and women's accessories from his booth, intentionally located near the food court and the restrooms to help maximize foot traffic.

"I was a corporate coward for several years," he joked. "Then my 401(k) went to a 101(k), so I decided I needed some incremental income."

Trader Marc's is wide-ranging, so it should appeal to people with differing tastes, Mathiason said, including many who normally might not shop at a flea market.

"This should be a fun, comfortable experience," he said. "It has all the ingredients."

Mathiason doesn't have any expectations for his new business, but he hopes to gross $1,000 each week.

"I just thought it would be fun," he said. "I don't have a whole lot to do with my time."

Keri Waiters, 23, of Lancaster recently finished school but is without a full-time job while she waits to receive her license to practice massage therapy. Until then, she plans to sell women's and children's clothes from her booth at Trader Marc's to maintain an income.

"We're going to focus on the young generation," she said of her business plan, "give them a place to shop besides the mall."

Giving people an avenue to become entrepreneurs is one of the ideas behind Trader Marc's, manager Chuck Smith said.

"We're hoping it's going to be a landmark for South Carolina," he said, "just a place for small businesses to start.

Smith also hopes Trader Marc's -- named after one of Smith's ancestors who was known for trading with Native Americans during the 1700s -- will help local farmers, particularly those who have taken a hit during the recession. York County farmers will get discounted rates on space, he said.

Smith, Pettus and the other partners who formed Trader Marc's hope for big crowds during opening weekend, but they aren't sure exactly what to expect. The economy has more people looking for bargains, Pettus said, so there's clearly a large potential clientele.

The goal, he said, is to gradually increase the number of vendors. But Pettus and the other partners know there will be "a building process" as the business develops.

"We're in it for the long haul," he said. "We've got a lot to offer."

Want to go?

Trader Marc's, an indoor, air conditioned flea market and farmer's market, opens at noon today at 2200 Carolina Place Drive in Fort Mill. To get there from I-77, take Exit 85 to S.C. 160. Go west toward Baxter and turn right onto Carolina Place Drive.

Normal hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Parking and admission are free.

Information: 803-396-3800 or tradermarcs.com

Jason Foster

To see more of The Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.heraldonline.com . Copyright (c) 2009, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com , call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.