Akichi: Bed-Stuy’s New Flea Market

Located on Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, Akichi opens on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for people to shop and hangout. Since it just opened in April it is still a new site for local residents.

Last year, 1181 Fulton Street was a garbage dump that left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths as they passed by, but recently a group of Japanese bikers rolled in and decided to fix it up. With a lot of sweat and elbow grease, these men threw out the trash, lay down some gravel, moved in a bunch of Airstream trailers and in April 2015 opened a vintage flea market that is a hipster’s dream.

An old Schwinn bike sits at the entrance of the flea market.

Customers peruse the various vendors at Akichi.

A rack of vintage t-shirts for sale.

Many Japanese families gather to hang out and sometimes they bring their children to play. This girl chose to play with bubbles.

Asami-san hands Fumi-san his leather jacket. Asami -san. Asami makes and sells her own jewelry while Fumi is a motorcycle mechanic. Both of them helped to create Akichi.

Nori-san speaks to Fumi about his motorcycle.

Asami-san’s jewelry making station.

A custom-made workstation in one of the trailers.

Small trinkets and dolls decorate the trailers.

Jacque enjoys the sun during her lunch break. She makes healing accessories for her company Silkwire Jewelry.

Fumi-san stands outside of his trailer in his leather jacket.

At night, the market glows with white Christmas lights.