The Shifting Soul of a Flea Market
Established in 1960, the San Jose Flea Market has been a cultural cornerstone of the Silicon Valley in Northern California. For decades it has provided affordable goods, food, and entertainment while fostering a strong sense of community for immigrant families and working-class residents. It became both a marketplace and meeting ground. A vibrant ecosystem where commerce and culture intertwined.
In 2021, developers purchased the land with plans for large-scale “Urban Villages” featuring housing, retail, and office space. Supporters view the project as a solution to the region’s housing shortage and an opportunity for economic growth. Critics fear it will erase one of the area’s last remaining enclaves of grassroots culture and working-class history.
The market’s future remains uncertain. Potential outcomes include relocation or a drastically reduced footprint, leaving its legacy hanging in the balance. What was once a bustling landmark now exists in transition. It's partly alive, partly disappearing.
I visited the Flea Market for the first time about 14 years ago and did not return again until the end of 2024. That was when I learned about its uncertain fate and decided to attend more regularly to take photos. This photographic series contains candid scenes and overlooked details, sprinkled with humor, humanity and surrealism. Moments that risk being lost in the name of progress.
