Business

A sanctury for vendors

By Tiara Edwards

Inside a sanctuary hidden by arched brick-walls is a 168 year old church-yard filled with a maze of vending tables with vendors conversing with customers. Each vending table with similar products, displayed jewelry, books, clothing, and antiques located on Avenue A and 1st Ave. 

“I got gold!”. A man with a baseball cap yelled out, his glasses reflected on a vending table of pants, scarfs, shirts. 

His simple joke and bright attitude was unexpected for a man who’ve been vending for three years. 

“This is my spot!”. He claimed with no hesitation expressing his love for selling jeans. Vending seemed like a big competitive sport but for him it was simply a fun experience. 

The Flea Market located in Immaculate Conception Church, was once on the corner of East 12th Street called “Mary Help Christians” founded by Bernada, a 97 year old woman who ministered to migrants and the homeless population in the neighborhood. 

David the flea markets’s manager, discussed Immaculate Conception had partnered with Saint Brigid’s, a 60-day shelter for incoming migrants; there are two church volunteers that gather unsold clothes that are donated to the shelter. 

What David Ramos, 56, first thought would be to spend lunch breaks with his uncle vending at this church, would secure him a job for the next 10 years. 

“After two weeks I quit!”. Ramos had succumbed to immense pressure whether that was setting up tables, throwing away trash, or solving disputes with people afflicted of mental illness or homelessness against vendors.

David recalled the church insisted for his return by giving him more money, “I said it’s not about the money, I need help now!” Ramos said. 

“We always here with the church, this is my thing”. Maria, church volunteer for 10 years.  Ramos never partook in vending, and overtime he befriended church volunteers. Their close relationship has allowed Ramos to establish the help he needed by creating a team of volunteers just like Maria’s commitment to support the church. 

 Ramos’ decision to come back was about the church’s alluring sense of community even after his uncle was extradited to Florida.

Immaculate Conception had struggled at first with raising money, Ramos recalled now as people visit the flea market to buy sustainable items, the church has been able to sustain their lives. 

“The church helps us, we help them”. Alex Rivera is a vendor located at the Flea Market every Saturday. Rivera and his wife Jahida recently became new to the game of vending. 

“Me and my wife started, you know, we wanted to make some money on the side”. Rivera said, while looking down on his table filled with funko pops, comic books, and trading cards. Rivera and his wife expressed how vending was a way for them to provide for their children and themselves. Rivera was once a taxi driver, and did additional jobs on the side. His vending job upheld major precautions.  

“It’s a bit comfortable, and you know you’re gonna get that attraction, whereas in Times Square you have to be concerned about who’s going to be coming by, grabbing what”. Jahida Villafane explained the difference between vending at the church versus street vending is different. 

The difference is street vendors are always turning their heads for danger around them but Bernada’s vision of the Flea Market within the church provided a sense of safety and community in Immaculate Conception church for vendors who have been here for either a few months, three years, or even more than 10.