Lyonel Doherty

Times-Chronicle

Put away your winter blues – the Oliver Flea Market is here to stay.

That’s the latest word from vendors who are preparing to relocate about 100 feet from their original location on Station Street.

Vendors have arranged to utilize space at the north end of the building, and on January 8, it will be business as usual.

It was previously believed that the market would close since it was reported that an electric vehicle manufacturing plant was planning on taking over their space. That is still being proposed, but the reality is the market will not close – it will simply move into available space at the far end of the building, with continued parking in the gravel lot.

Long-time vendor Ellery Haftner said he views the relocation as very positive, adding the public was unfortunately led to believe the market was shutting down.

Haftner said the enterprise, which has been operating for nine years, became a social gathering place for a lot of people, including “snowbirds.”

“I can remember, a few years back, in the middle of winter, this (eating area) was filled with 30 to 35 people having breakfast.”

In fact, “it became an epicentre for indoor socializing in Oliver,” he pointed out.

“There were more people that came through this building on a weekend than went through Canadian Tire. I worked there; I know.”

While COVID-19 has changed that, Haftner said he believes the social atmosphere will return in the new location.

Flea market manager Gary McKelvie confirmed they will reopen “shiny and new” on January 8.

He noted that a few vendors are shutting down for good due to retirement, while others are closing temporarily in the new year.

When asked what he thought about the EV manufacturing proposal, McKelvie said he is excited to see new industry come to town.

“It’s a wake-up call for us . . . I’m all for it.”

He noted the company is supposed to start bringing in components soon, “as quick as they can get down the highway.”

Carol Hyszka said she and her husband have been vendors at the flea market since it opened.

“I think the move is really positive,” she stated, adding there was initial uncertainty.

“Nobody really knew whether we were coming or going, and the vendors were getting anxious about it.”

Hyszka said the new location is set up nicely with room for everyone.

“With the right advertising I think we’ll do just fine.”

She said the electric vehicle manufacturing business is progress for Oliver by providing jobs. “We can’t complain about it for sure.”

Hyszka noted the flea market has changed over the years, particularly due to the pandemic.

“At its peak it (the market) was absolutely the place to come on Saturdays. It was locals and snowbirds and people from Kelowna and Penticton would come down. We’d be so busy socializing and selling; it was just great fun.”

Hyszka said when people began talking about the market shutting down, she was surprised at the number of people who came and lamented, “what are we going to do now, I can’t believe it!”

Fellow vendor Allan Knodel travels to Oliver every weekend from West Kelowna.

When he heard that an EV manufacturer was moving in and possibly displacing the vendors, he was stunned.

“Initially I felt rather shocked because where do we go? We wouldn’t find a place like this, or even half this size that has reasonable rent.”

But the fact they can relocate within the same building is good news.

“It’s still a big hassle to move,” he admitted, adding that he must downsize by 50 per cent, which is probably a good thing, he noted.

Knodel said the EV proposal will be good for the town. He recalled the building used to be a manufacturing plant for motorhomes.

The vendor said the market is a place where people appreciate visiting each other.

“To shop too, I guess. But I think more important for some of them, it’s to socialize.”