Nick Haseloff

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Photojournalism
Music Photography
About + Contact
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NICK HASELOFF

Smiley's Flea Market: Photo essay

Ben Campen Sr. opened Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC in 1984 with just over 50,000 square feet of selling space. Today Smiley's covers over 20 acres with 100,000 square feet of indoor selling space and 700 exterior booths. The flea market host

Patrons view the items that sellers have on display at the flea market.

In the early hours of the morning, the walkways surrounding Smiley's are often empty.

Colt poses in front of his truck where he sells items in the exterior market of Smiley's. Colt is a veteran and sells army surplus gear with some of his friends.

Patrons of Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC walk up and down the aisles of outdoor tables where sellers peddle an assortment of items. Some of the wares that the dealers sell include CD's, records, tool, baby clothes, packaged food, video game s

Curt poses behind his selling table which mainly consists of tools. He is 30-year veteran of the flea market and can be found selling any given weekend.

Curt talks to a buyer.

Workers unload product in the back of a produce shop located in Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC. They are one of many produce stands that cater to the Latino community in Fletcher. Many of the shop owners at Smiley's speak very little english.

A man walks down a walkway inbetween the shops at Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC.

An abandoned ticket booth sits in front of the carousel located at Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC. The carousel is a landmark of the flea market even though it seldom sees use lately.

A billboard featuring an advertisement for a reward for the any information regarding the dissappearance oif Zebb Quinn, an 18-year-old that went missing in Jan. of 2000 sits near one of the entrances at Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC. Quinn's

A worker looks out the window of a concessions stand located inside one of the many buildings of Smiley's Fle Markets in Fletcher, NC. The stand is one of many food shops in the buildings.

Dale "Sweetman" Step sits behind a counter at his shop inside Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC. Step sells collectibles and knick-knacks out of a small shop that is filled to the brim with products. Step is known in the wrestling ring as "Mr. Wr

Smiley's Flea Market opened in 1984 with just over 50,000 square feet of selling space. Today Smiley's covers over 20 acres with 100,000 square feet of indoor selling space and 700 exterior booths. The flea market hosts hundreds of sellers and buyer

Maria cleans the counter of the food stand where she works with her daughter Juana. Through broken English, Juana explained to me that her mother has lived in Fletcher for over 50 years and opened her food stand shortly after Smiley's started, over

Maria sits on the steps of the food stand where she works with her daughter Juana. Through broken english, Juana explained to me that her mother has lived in Fletcher for over 50 years and opened her food stand shortly after Smiley's started, over 3

Patrons and buyers walk past Maria's food stand which is located on one of the exterior selling rows.

A truck sits behind an exterior selling table full of wares at Smiley's Flea Market in Fletcher, NC. Smiley's allows anyone to sell on their tables for a nominal fee. Many sellers bring their vehicles right up to the table for easier access.

Categories: Photo Essays

April 18, 2018 by Nick Haseloff

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