Wolff's flea market to spend winter in Palatine

The popular flea market that packs the Allstate Arena parking lot in Rosemont over the summer will move indoors for the winter.

Beginning Nov. 21, Wolff's Flea Market will set up shop on weekends in the vacant Menards building at 1775 N. Rand Road in Palatine.

Attempts to contact Wolff's Flea Market were unsuccessful, but according its Web site, the outdoor flea market attracts up to 650 vendors and 13,000 shoppers on Sundays, and 140 vendors and 2,000 shoppers on Saturdays.

Palatine's operation won't be nearly as large, said Deputy Village Manager Mike Jacobs.

He said Wolff's representatives expect about 200 total vendors on a given weekend, most of whom will be able to park in the old lumber yard behind the building. That leaves 300 to 400 parking spaces for customers.

Wolff's approached the village about the vacant building and signed a lease through March 2010, paying the village $10,000 a month in rent, in addition to utilities and property taxes.

Wolff's will also have to pick up the tab should police be called in to direct traffic, though Jacobs doubts that will be necessary given customers will come and go throughout the day and there's a stoplight and two ways to access the property.

Palatine officials believe the flea market will serve as a profitable interim use until a permanent business steps in. The village has hired a real estate broker to find a user and "there has been some interest."

"This is a good thing for businesses in the area," Jacobs said. He's received a few calls from residents with questions, but no one has expressed real concern over the flea market.

In its 19-year history, Wolff's has run a number of indoor flea markets in Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Melrose Park. But the Palatine location will be its only indoor operation this winter.

Admission to Wolff's is $1 for adults, 50 cents for seniors and children ages 6 to 12 and free for children under 6.