Brooklyn Flea Market: Site Report

After reading my post about the Brooklyn Flea market's move to One Hanson Place (formerly the Williamsburgh Savings Bank), building collector Joe K. visited the market. He and fellow Brooklyn resident Pat S. have great things to say about the market and he graciously sent me this report with photos:

"All I can say is, WOW. What a terrific setting for a flea market - absolutely magnificent.  They kept everything original in the main banking floor, but did remove a lot of wonderful mahogany paneling and other such details from the back and side offices.  (I had been there when it was still a working bank and knew the branch manager and got a behind the scenes tour). Pat and I walked there this afternoon. The flea market takes up the whole banking floor - including behind the teller's cages on both side and all the back room spaces on the first floor.  There are additional booths on the 2nd floor (overlooking the main floor - breath taking views - photos included).  In the basement, where the safe deposit department was located - are even more dealers and the food court.  The food court took up the entire inside of the old safe deposit vault - no easy feat as it was HUGE!!!  There are 3 gigantic vault doors to get into the safe deposit area (see photo - doors were 6 feet thick).  Behind the safe deposit vault were additional food vendors - great variety. The place was mobbed - many folks streaming in all the time.  It's in a terrific location - near many hip residential areas (Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Park Slope, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Heights, etc.) and much less of purely a tourist area like in DUMBO.  It is so easy to get to by public transit - sitting on top of Atlantic terminal - all the subways and the LIRR plus almost every bus line passes next to it or below it.  Also such an easy walk from all the neighborhoods. I enclosed some photos of buildings I found - so, yes - you can buy a souvenir building inside this souvenir building. I bought a replica of the City Hall of Toronto, Canada on a wooden base with a pen holder and original pen. It was made in Canada in 1965.  Way cool. Anyway, thank you for posting the article about this flea market moving to its new location.  I'll be back.  By the way - it's open both Saturday and Sunday." -Joe