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Addressing Vendor Concerns & Setting the Record Straight
12
Jul
Jul
Hello,
Yesterday’s interactions with most of our vendors at the Swap Meet were deeply disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable. It’s time to break down the reality behind our recent decisions and address the misinformation and hostility directly.
Let’s remember where we started:
- Nearly four years ago, when the Swap Meet was on the brink of shutting down, we stepped in—not to rebrand it as a trendy flea market, but to preserve the community and support the vendors who relied on this space.
- We kept our original vendors, removed troublemakers, and rebuilt the event from the ground up. The Swap Meet thrived until the ICE raids began, which devastated our vendor base (from 180 to just 27) and slashed attendance from 6,000 to under 1,000 per weekend.
We did everything possible to keep the doors open:
- When ICE threats forced us to close for two weekends, we worked tirelessly to reopen, knowing the risks.
- Last weekend, we tried operating both Saturday and Sunday. The result? Massive losses due to low turnout from both vendors and attendees.
We were left with two options—neither of them fair:
- Shut down completely and rebrand as a flea market next month, since flea markets are not being targeted by enforcement. Is that fair? Absolutely not, but it is the reality we are living in at the moment, and it does not appear to be getting better.
- Keep Saturdays open for the Swap Meet and develop a new Curated Vintage Flea Market for Sundays, hoping to keep the Swap Meet alive for as long as possible.
We chose the path that best supports our vendors and community.
But after today’s disrespectful and inflammatory behavior—including being called racist and threatened with lawsuits—our willingness to continue even Saturday operations is in jeopardy. These accusations are baseless and undermine everything we have done to support this community through some of its hardest times.
But after today’s disrespectful and inflammatory behavior—including being called racist and threatened with lawsuits—our willingness to continue even Saturday operations is in jeopardy. These accusations are baseless and undermine everything we have done to support this community through some of its hardest times.
We understand this is not what anyone—including us—wants to deal with.
But this is a business, and we also have to consider the LACC Foundation, which this swap meet was created to support. The Foundation relies on this event for the majority of its operating budget—a budget that 17,000 students depend on every single year. This is bigger than just us, or even the vendors. The impact of our decisions goes far beyond the market itself.
But this is a business, and we also have to consider the LACC Foundation, which this swap meet was created to support. The Foundation relies on this event for the majority of its operating budget—a budget that 17,000 students depend on every single year. This is bigger than just us, or even the vendors. The impact of our decisions goes far beyond the market itself.
We all need to work together.
If you want to blame anyone, blame Donald Trump and ICE for creating this impossible environment. Do not attack or vent at my staff—this will not be tolerated.
If you want to blame anyone, blame Donald Trump and ICE for creating this impossible environment. Do not attack or vent at my staff—this will not be tolerated.
We will not tolerate abusive or slanderous behavior from anyone.
If this continues, we will have no choice but to reconsider whether the Swap Meet can continue in any form. Our goal has always been to provide a safe, supportive space for vendors and the community. That only works if there is mutual respect.
If this continues, we will have no choice but to reconsider whether the Swap Meet can continue in any form. Our goal has always been to provide a safe, supportive space for vendors and the community. That only works if there is mutual respect.
We urge everyone to reflect on the facts, understand the difficult position we’re in, and work with us—not against us—if you want to see the Swap Meet survive.
Phillip Dane
LACC Swap Meet, Inc.
🌐Lang
