Last updated on Nov. 10, 2025 at 06:38 p.m.
The pop-up Middlefork Flea Market returned to the Lincoln Square Mall for its third installation of Middlefork at the Mall this past weekend, bringing together over 90 local Midwest vendors and festive Halloween activities.
Middlefork at the Mall has grown significantly since its first Urbana market in March of this year. Jeremy Priest, organizer of the event, estimates they have gone from 65 vendors to around 90 today.
“It feels like everybody has a good time,” Priest said. “It’s nice in here, lots of traffic and it feels like there’s been some success.”
Priest began selling vintage toys, games and comics at flea markets in 2014. He was a returning vendor at the Gordyville Flea Market until investors purchased Gordyville. The new owners closed the flea market last December, which left many vendors with no place to sell. Priest decided to fill this gap by starting the Middlefork Markets.
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“I’ve been doing this (for) a year because it was a need; there was not a whole lot of options,” Priest said.
Many of Middlefork’s artists, artisans and collectors had also been a part of the Gordyville Flea Market.
Gerald Dossey, an antique goods seller coming from the Gordyville Flea Market, mentioned how he had noticed at least 15 former Gordyville people.
Dossey started going to auctions in Danville during the ’60s, but has only been vending since the ’90s. He and his wife would get “very fine antiques,” but have noticed a change in consumer behavior towards less expensive goods.
“Today’s been kind of slow for me,” Dossey said. “I’ve got a little more expensive stuff, I see you need little, cheaper stuff, to sell more items.”
Frank Calaway, a woodworker who has been selling at markets for over 10 years, also noticed a change in spending away from more expensive items.
“I’ve seen it go from a lot of disposable income to people being a little bit more leery and are not quite spending as much,” Calaway said.
Calaway was participating in the market’s Halloween festivities, dressed as a Grimm from the 2011 series, “Grimm.” Visitors and vendors had the option to come in costume and trick-or-treat to get in the Halloween spirit.
When planning any themes or activities like this, Priest finds it important to open up the decision-making and planning to all the vendors or guests that may be involved.
“I’m a bit of an empath, so I want to make sure everybody feels good about what’s going on,” Priest said.
Priest organizes the flea market with the help of his wife and friends. This has made the event a more collaborative process between him and other vendors.
“Any of those decisions I make, I’m like, ‘Here’s an idea, let’s see,’” Priest said. “If 80% of the people say it’s awesome, then it’s probably awesome.”
Much of this communication occurs on the Middlefork Flea Market’s Facebook page, which has become a growing hub for the community, showing 2,858 people interested in Middlefork at the Mall Part 3.
Even though the event has grown, Priest wants to keep it local.
“I like to see the creators, and artists, and hobbyists and collectors from this area because there’s plenty of other people that can do this elsewhere, but there’s only so many that would do it here,” Priest said. “It’s important and it gives alternatives for some of these younger kids.”
According to Priest, it can be difficult for local artists to put themselves out there, but Middlefork Flea Market gives them an outlet for exposure and an opportunity to sell their goods and creations.
“I like the idea that people come out — it’s not super expensive — and maybe they can sell something,” Priest said. “How awesome would that be?”
The next market put on by Middlefork Flea Market will be the Holiday Special on Dec. 6 and 7 at the Palmer Arena in Danville, Illinois. On Facebook, over 2,000 people have already shown interest in this free entrance event.