Richmond has several decent sized flea markets, each with their own distinct personality.
Bellwood
Bellwood flea market is the largest in the Richmond area, and my personal favorite. It is however, the only flea market in the area that charges admission. Fees are $1 per person, but with the variety and volume of merchandise, it’s really a bargain. You can also buy a punch card that entitles you for 20 admissions for a discounted rate.
Directions: Bellwood is a little more than 10 minutes drive from downtown on 95 at exit 64/Willis Road, on the Southside of Richmond. (address is 9201 Jefferson Davis Hwy. JD highway is also known as Rt. 301) It is at the corner of 301 and Willis road. As you get off the exit, take a right at the light. The flea market will be on your left just after passing a hotel and Burger King.
It is housed in an old drive in movie theatre lot, and averages at least 250 vendors daily on the weekends, with an average daily attendance of 3,000 people. Officially open Sat and Sun 8-4, but the gates unofficially at least an hour earlier, and many sellers pack up long before 4. If you get there much after 11 PM, some sellers will probably be shutting down, although there will be many still set up. Bellwood is a large flea market, all outdoors. Wear comfy shoes, use sun protection if needed, and bring water along. It can take more than a couple of hours to walk all of the aisles. If you bring your dog (leashed, friendly dogs are welcome- $1 charge. PLEASE clean up after your dogs!!)- make sure to bring water along for them too. It really can get hot out there on that asphalt! Rain is about the only thing that can deter sellers from staying at Bellwood. I’ve been out there on some of the coldest and the hottest days imaginable, and am always surprised at how many sellers are there. Sunday is the biggest day with the most sellers. Because so much walking is involved, bring a wagon or stroller if you have kids with you. The added bonus of a wagon is that it can hold not just the kiddos, but some purchases too!
Bellwood has a mixture of new and used goods, as well as some fruit stands, plant sales, etc. One of my favorite things about Bellwood is that it has not been completely inundated with sellers of junky new items, like many flea markets have been. Although those sellers are abundant (and do sometimes offer really good prices), the heart of Bellwood is still “other people’s junk”. If you like fruits and vegetables that are uncommon, or horribly expensive, in the grocery stores, check out the fruit vendors. They have lots of good deals, especially at the end of the day on Sundays! If you get hungry while you’re walking- try to find the white van selling peanuts in the shell for $1 a bag, they’re great!
There is an indoor concession stand with bathrooms that sells drinks as well as breakfast and lunch. Bottled water is horribly expensive, so bring your own. They do have snow cones for $1 each, which is a good deal after standing in the hot sun, but be warned, the line is often very long inside. There is also an ATM inside if you need extra cash.
Azalea
Azalea Flea market is located on the Northside of Richmond, near RIR racetrack and the Virginia State Fairgrounds. (5209 Wilkinson Road)
I would classify Azalea as the second largest flea market in Richmond. If I were to plan a flea market weekend, I would visit Azalea and Bubba’s on Saturday, and save Bellwood for Sunday. No admission costs, plenty of parking. Open Fri, Sat, Sun, but Saturday is by far the biggest day. Sellers start arriving at 6 or so, and most shut down by mid-afternoon. Size of the flea market varies, but there are often more than a 100 sellers. Largely “junk” stuff with a few new stuff dealers thrown in. Good variety, decent prices. Restrooms inside, as well as a building inside stocked with one seller’s items.
Bubba’s
Bubba’s flea market is in the parking lot of a Honky Tonk Bar on the East End of Richmond (4000 Williamsburg Road). Its size is limited because of the size of the parking lot, but there are often several dozen vendors at least. People actually set up all week, but the most business occurs on Saturdays. Wide variety of merchandise. Bubba’s seems to sell more than it’s share of pornography some days. If you have kiddos with you, be careful what boxes they look in. While out that way, check out N&W; salvage. If you take a left out of the parking lot of Bubba’s- just stay straight for a couple of miles on Williamsburg Road. You’ll pass the Richmond airport on your right, and N&W; salvage is on the right after the next light. They have grocery and household salvage items. Sometimes you can find great deals, but they also sell a lot of expired stuff, sometimes long expired. If you’re willing to do some digging though, there’s sometimes really good stuff to be found.
Super Flea (5501 Midlothian Turnpike) Indoor flea market.
Honestly, I can’t recommend the superflea anymore. It’s not in the best of areas, and is largely deserted these days. It has gone drastically downhill in the past few years, and many sellers have left. The last few times I have gone, most of the booths were closed, and the last two times I went, the police were called for incidents while I was there. Both the grocery outlet and the little store in the back have closed. If you do choose to visit, there is a thrift store that shares a parking lot with the SuperFlea that is worth visiting. It’s a religious thrift store called “Love of Jesus” but if religion isn’t your thing- don’t worry, they won’t push their beliefs on you. The staff is very friendly and the store is well run. All clothing is $1, and I’ve gotten some great deals there. There is also a sister store to this one on the East End.
If you’re willing to drive a little, the Virginia Bazaar in Ladysmith is about 30 minutes North of Richmond. Both indoor and outdoor, but most sellers are indoors, either selling antiques or new items. Worth a visit if you’re traveling up interstate 95 anyway, but not worth a specific trip if you’re looking for a traditional flea market. They do sometimes have free appraisal weekends though, which can be a great way to get a flea market find valued by an expert in the field. They have a food court and restrooms inside. Free admission, lots of parking.
There are also several large yearly sales. The sale at 13 acres school in Richmond City is one of the largest. Parking is a nightmare for this sale, but there are a ton of vendors. More of a high end sale than your traditional “flea market”, but still lots of good deals to be had. Check the Richmond Times Dispatch website for details of when these sales happen.
If you are downtown in Shockoe Slip or Shockoe Bottom, the 17th Street Farmer’s Market is always worth a visit. Not a flea market, but not wholly a farmer’s market either. Crafts, art, antiques, home made goodies and more. Parking is at a premium in that area, so once you’ve found a spot- don’t move for lunch! Take the block walk from the farmer’s market to Bottom’s Up Pizza for a slice of the biggest, thickest, best pizza in town. (Trust me, just order one slice, that’s plenty for almost everyone!- it’s won many rewards around town for best pizza. Eat outside if you can!)
General flea market advice:
Nationally, flea markets generally aren’t located in the best parts of town. None of the flea markets listed above (with the possible exception of the SuperFlea) are in areas that are particularly unsafe. Regardless, use caution. Don’t flash large amounts of cash, lock your doors when you leave your car, and keep aware of who is around you. Watch for counterfeit or stolen items at flea markets. If something seems too good to be true, investigate further, but if an item is relatively cheap, take the plunge! You can’t wait around too long at a flea market, or someone will snatch your gem out from under your nose!
Bargaining is perfectly acceptable at flea markets in this area, and can sometimes be a lot of fun! Remember, you are in the South, and politeness will go a long way here. When in doubt, ask the price of something, wait for a response, then smile and say “Thank you. Is that your best price?”, and you might be surprised at the answer. Don’t ask for a discount in front of other customers if you can help it, because the seller is more likely to turn you down. Small change, comfy shoes, a bottle of water, sunscreen, and a shopping cart of some sort are all great things to have with you.
Regardless of weather you are visiting Richmond, have just moved here, or are a long-time resident just getting familiar with the flea market scene in town- WELCOME! Spend a couple of days with us, and you’ll likely find us a friendly, historic, eclectic place. The people are just as varied as the flea market merchandise- in Richmond, there’s truly something for everyone.
