Couple founded event to support, create space for all vendors
Smiling vendors of Power of Vintage sell vintage clothing. Photo by Julia Garrett.
Salma Escoto, Contributing Writer
Booths overflowing with handmade trinkets, vintage clothes and miscellaneous items for sale, all from local small businesses and vendors, took over Main Street Station at Swap Meet RVA.
Swap Meet RVA took place on Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside of the station. Local vendors of all backgrounds were welcome to sell their products — most selling vintage wear. The event also included food trucks, a live DJ and other sales, such as art and jewelry.
Swap Meet RVA hosts 70 to 75 vendors every month on a Sunday at the Main Street Station, according to the Swap Meet RVA website.
Husband and wife duo Cameron Hadnot and Deja Hadnot founded Swap Meet RVA with the intended purpose of giving small businesses and creators from all demographics the opportunity to participate as vendors, according to Cameron Hadnot.
The inspiration for Swap Meet RVA came from Cameron Hadnot’s hometown of Los Angeles, where he witnessed the growth of other flea markets, he said.
Swap Meet RVA was initially held outside during the summer of 2020, but they decided to host it inside to keep the market running year-round so vendors would have a reliable space for selling their products and a somewhat reliable income, according to Cameron Hadnot.
“I don’t want it to be something that my vendors relied on for six months and then is gone — so the goal was to find somewhere inside to be able to do it and that’s where I came across Main Street Station,” Cameron Hadnot said.
Having the indoor space at Main Street Station and the ability to run the market year-round has also been a game-changer for the Hadnots and their business, according to Cameron Hadnot.
Flea markets such as Swap Meet RVA contribute to the artistic aspect of Richmond and offer a place for vendors and artists to follow and share their passions, according to Cameron Hadnot.
“I wanted to get the folks to get their vintage game out there — get your game out there, get a party, make it cool, live event, DJ music and all this kind of stuff,” Cameron Hadnot said.
Vendors utilize flea markets as a source of income and to share their artistic passions with others, according to John McKinney of Shop Lyric’s Boutique, a vendor at the market.
Having markets like Swap Meet RVA to make sales is convenient for Shop Lyric’s Boutique, McKinney said.
McKinney believes flea markets have not only positively impacted his business, but also his lifestyle, he said.
