The city of San Antonio is known for it’s Mexican American Flair, and the liveliness of this culture can be experienced at the Mission Flea Market. The ideal time to go is in spring when the weather is warm, yet breezy, and early in the morning on a Wednesday or Sunday. If you go with a friend and decide to wander off on your own, you can easily find where they are with a quick cell phone call and their identifying row letter. The experience can be a family affair because there is something here for everyone!
Teenage girls can find all sorts of cheap (sometimes under $5) popular clothes, purses, shoes, and jewelry. Women can find toys for their kids, beautiful flowers to plant in their garden, comforters and bed linens, a greatly discounted bottle of their favorite name brand perfume, and even makeup! Men can find all kinds of tools, sporting goods, discounted DVDs, and video games. If you are a new home owner or are remodeling, chances are you can find ceiling lights, fixtures and chandeliers, as well as windows, doors, bar stools, a washer and dryer, and all kinds of used furniture. On one of our shopping excursions, my father even found a high quality piano for only $500.
The gourmet foodie can usually find used kitchen equipment and even live herbs like oregano and sweet basil. All these things are great treasures to find, but if you’re from out of town, you’ll notice that what separates this flea market from others you have probably visited, is the lively Mexican influence. As you waif through the rows, you will hear mariachi music, and your nose will curiously inhale the exotic aromas of the nearby food stands.
When people imagine Mexican food, they think of heavy, starchy food. This is a far cry from the simple and fresh Mexican fruit cups topped with lime and a special chili powder mix or corn on the cob covered with lime, chili sauce and Parmesan cheese. Throughout the flea market there are all kinds of food stands showcasing these and other authentic Mexican snack foods that you won’t find at your local Mexican restaurant. You will see rows of produce vendors bringing Mexican grown produce from strawberries and apples to mangoes and pineapples.
Everything you see will be vastly below what you’re used to seeing in grocery stores and in retail outlets. At my last flea market outing, I found two high quality swivel barstools with backs for $40 each. At retail they would sell for over $100. I also found new earrings for $1 each. Plus, every item’s price is negotiable. The earlier in the day you come, the more selection you will find. The later in the day you arrive, the easier it is to bargain down prices because vendors are eager to sell their items before they leave for the day and they are renting out the space they occupy. Entry into the flea market is $1 a person, and vendors only accept cash. With all these treasures to find in the south side of San Antonio, now you can enjoy flea market excursions at the Mission!
