WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT THE CHELSEA FLEA MARKETS?
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
AT THE CHELSEA FLEA MARKETS?
The Last Flea Market in Chelsea Ends in Disgrace
by
Larry Baumhor
Copyright, Larry Baumhor, 2019
Since the 1960s there were up to eight flea markets from 24th to 26th Street & 6th Ave in New York. On December 29, 2019, the Chelsea Flea Market on 25th Street between 6th Ave and Broadway died, the end, it’s all over. Nothing left, nada. In their heyday, the flea markets roared like a lion. But they went out like a lamb led to the slaughter. In part, gentrification wiped a 60-year NY cultural phenomenon off the map like a tsunami. Unlike when the Garage Antique Flea Market closed at the end of June 2014 dealers and collectors were sad and even crying, including yours truly. The Chelsea Flea Market closed in disgrace and I felt a sense of relief amongst the dealers.
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| The Chelsea Flea Market on 12-28-2019, by Larry Baumhor |
Alan Boss, president of the Annex Antique Fair and Flea Market, began renting an outdoor parking lot at 24th & 25th Street and 6th Ave in 1976 for vendors to sell antiques and collectibles. Alan Boss began taking over other outdoor lots on 6th Avenue, including leasing the Garage Antique Flea Market at 25th St. and 6th Ave. There were two blocks of thriving flea markets, a haven for shoppers of antiques and collectibles, a landmark of New York that attracted a diverse group of people from all over the world including celebrities.
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| Andy Warhol at the 6th Ave flea market, circa 1980s by Sharon Baluta |
“The idea of wandering around a flea market in search of a bargain may fit with the era of austerity being felt in France and elsewhere but, according to historian Andrew Hussey, it was a pastime that was actually invented by the surrealists in the 1930s.” ‘The whole surrealist aesthetic came from flea market flânerie (strolling),” he says. “André Breton, the leader of the surrealists, was fascinated by pieces that were regarded as being of no use anymore. He would go to the flea markets and pick up old ear trumpets and elephants’ feet and lots of African pieces too.’ By Kate Watson-Smyth, https://www.ft.com/content/c97e6866-94d8-11e3-9146-00144feab7de
According to one source, I was told that patrons of the Garage Antique Flea Market and other members of the Chelsea community attended a hearing at the City Planning Department in 1992 arguing that the area surrounding the 6th Avenue flea markets were only zoned for 8-story light industry buildings, and that the flea markets were a huge tourist attraction, but to no avail. In 1995 the real-estate at the 6th Avenue flea markets were rezoned to allow residential and commercial zoning, including high-rises above 8-stories. The monster high-rise buildings began to grow and ate up the flea markets. Kill the culture! High-rises, gentrification, expansion, jobs, development, help the community. Bullshit!
Alan Boss said, “Ultimately we knew, in reality, we could never win against the big bucks the developers had. What we did was the best we could hope for: slow down the process which we did effectively. What we did in 1990 was get a huge petition signed by customers and vendors. One of the customers was Susan Sontag who would come to the markets with Annie Leibovitz on Sundays and hang out. When I asked Susan for her signature, she graciously gave it and said,” ‘how could they do away with this market for the sake of development? This market serves as part of the cultural fabric of what New York is.’ “She was right, but New York is always prone to development and money. Money rules! Yes, we slowed it down by going to court, but in 1999 they closed the first lot and built the first building.”
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| Why did Helene Boss, manager of the Chelsea Flea Market, wife of Alan Boss, owner of the flea markets, steal this 1914 illustration/painting used on the cover of Vogue from a dealer? |
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| My nickname for this woman is Evil of Madness a.k.a. Helene Boss |
Helene Boss managed and collected the money during the last two years at the Chelsea Flea Market. You rarely saw Alan, apparently, they are getting divorced. Everyone knew the lease was up at the flea market at the end of December 2019. But Helene refused to inform anyone the market was closing. When asked she said I don’t know. On or about Thursday, December 26, 2019, Helene called some dealers to inform them the market was ending on Sunday and she did not sign a new lease. She randomly picked some dealers to call. Other dealers, some who were with the Bosses for twenty years did not receive calls. When some dealers called her, she responded I don’t know or I have to go and hung up. The madness continued on the last weekend at the market. I was there on Saturday, December, 28, 2019. Many dealers sell either on Saturday or Sunday. Helene Boss collected the money from dealers who sold on Saturday only and did not inform all of them this was the last day for the market. The dealers had no idea except from other dealers whom Helene informed the market was closing. How do you not tell dealers (some who have been with you for twenty or more years that this is the last weekend at the market)? This blew my mind! I tried unsuccessfully to contact the owners and managers of the flea market lot (Larry Friedland Properties and Manhattan Parking Group). One of the reasons the Bosses did not inform the dealers was because of money. They wanted the dealers to think they were going to continue into 2020 so they would not look for another place to sell. Grab as much money as you can until the last minute and fuck the dealers.
They pulled the same shit when the Garage Antique Flea Market closed and the dealers moved to the Chelsea Flea Market at 25th street. I sold vintage photography at the Garage for fifteen years. The dealers were informed that we were moving to the building Alan Boss was renovating, an old bagel factory at 639 W. 46th St. He was going to have the dealers sell there during the weekends and rent the facility for events such as weddings, corporate affairs and shows during the week like he does with the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 W. 18th St.
Here’s part of an interview I conducted with Alan Boss before the closing of the Garage on the last weekend of June 2014. In no uncertain terms, Mr. Boss said he was moving the dealers at the Garage to the newly renovated facility at 639 W. 46th St.
You leased a place at H & H Bagels, and want to move this operation to 46th & 12th Ave. There is some talk that it’s going to take time to get people there. Out-of-towners and tourists might not know about the move, and even New Yorkers are not going to be able to get there easily. I heard the subway is six blocks away. I was wondering (A) how the place at H & H is developing? And (B) do you agree with any of the feelings people are talking about that it’s going to take time; it’s not going to develop overnight?
Alan: “Nothing does. But like my 100-year-old father, I’d prefer to see the glass half-full as opposed to half-empty, always. In 2014 the # 7 train will stop at 11th Ave & 42nd St. There is a crosstown bus, both on 42nd St. and 50th St. So it’s not that hard to get to. As far as tourism is concerned, we will redirect that to 46th & 12 Ave. When we closed the last outdoor market on August 31, 2005, I opened an outdoor market at 39th St. between 9th and 10th Ave. There was a following when the outdoor market closed, people came to 39th St. And we established a route for tourism to come, and it’s filled with people. The same thing will happen when the Garage closes. It may take some time. There might be a slight falling off of business until people are rerouted. But feel confident in the fact people will be rerouted.”
Do you have an advertising plan?
“Marketing is what I do. That’s what made all this happen.”
Will it be print media and social media?
“It will be a combination of both, word of mouth, and some other innovative things that I’m working on that I am not prepared to discuss now.”
Can you drive into the first floor at 46th Street?
“You can drive some in the first floor. But it will be better rolling stuff in from the street. You can’t drive to the second floor. You take a 10 by 10 elevator. It probably will be somewhat more problematic because of the new venue. But we will deal with any problems as they arise.”
When do you think the Garage will close and we will make the transition to 46th Street?
“The way things are going on 46th St. and the development of the 29-story hotel, I’ll be ready to go on 46th St. before the Garage closes.”
Can I pin you down to a general time?
“I’ll probably be open by April 2014 on 46th St. And the Garage will close sometime after that.”
People love the ambiance at the Garage. We’re used to perspiring and the ceilings peeling.
“You’re gonna have clean bathrooms, heat, air-conditioning and hot water. You’re moving into civilized territory. It’s 2014. Ambiance changes.”
Can’t we move the Garage to H & H Bagels?
“Everything has its time. The outdoor markets had as much time as we could get for them. We’re going to a new venue and we have to tweak everything. In essence, it will be the same crazy stuff and the same crazy people buying and selling. If you live in New York everything changes every day. Change is the only guaranteed thing in life, Larry. Having created all of this for so many years, I don’t have it within me to just walk away and say it was great fun, I made money and by.”
Alan Boss also informed the media that he was planning to move the Garage flea market dealers to the new facility.
The old bagel factory at 639 W. 46th St. will become a 24,000-square-foot event venue run by Metropolitan Pavilion owner Alan Boss, who also plans to move the Antiques Garage flea market to the location.” By Mathew Katz | July 16, 2013, 1:25 pm, @MathewKatz
Control the dealers, divert their interest in looking for another venue, create a fantasy, grab as much money as possible and then wham, bam, thank you mam! With two weeks left at the Garage Alan Boss informed the dealers we are moving outside to 25th St. The bigshot even threw out many of the dealers in the 25th St. lot who were selling new merchandise. He eventually allowed the dealers back in when he raised the rent, charged a fee to enter and dealers left because of an abusive situation.
During the last year at the Garage, I began renting half a booth because business was bad. For ten years, I was the second booth upstairs in the middle row next to my friend Robert Holover. Before that I was in the back for the first five years I sold at the Garage. Roberta became a dear friend who passed away on November 1, 2018. The Bosses decided to punish me in isolation for not renting a full booth, claiming they needed the space for dealers who rent an entire space. This was a lie. The Garage at this point rarely sold out and there were always some empty spaces.
In the end I was placed in solitary confinement and my booth was under the ramp where they stored stuff, it was not a space for dealers. The ramp led to the parking garage on the third floor. I shared a booth with rats, mice, insects, bugs, vermin, tables, equipment, and filthy garbage. I felt things bang into my feet.
When I began selling at the Garage at the end of 1999, Michael Santulli was the manager. Alan Boss rarely visited the Garage while Michael was the manager. Helene Boss I was informed occasionally shopped at the Garage, but hardly anyone knew who she was.
Michael Santulli passed away on September 09, 2014. For 16-years Michael was the manager of the Garage Antique Flea Market. Michael was loved, revered, compassionate, and sometimes vilified. He could be sarcastic like a comedian, demanding like a strict boss, and caring like Mother Teresa. Michael had to deal with hundreds of dealers, many eccentrics, some whacked out and a few that were certifiably nuts. But we were a family and Michael was our father and our brother. He would visit dealers in the hospital, take employees out to dinner on Thanksgiving, help you when your car broke down. Once a dealer lost her medicine that was accidentally thrown out. He and other employees went through all of the trash at the Garage until they found the medicine. His kind heart had no boundaries.
“Michael Santulli, the Garage manager, is really a kind person. Every year on Thanksgiving he personally pays for dinner for anyone who has nowhere to go, sometimes this is 30 or more people,” Debbie Leonard, a dealer at the Garage.
“I love the Garage because of the family run-market. The people here fight hard to make a living. When I thought I was dying and my husband had cancer, Mike Santulli, the manager of the Garage, came to visit me in the hospital. He was very compassionate and supportive. Mike made me feel like I was part of his family. Mike has a gigantic heart,” said one dealer.
In the spring of 2012, Alan Boss fired Michael Santulli, accusing him of stealing money from the Garage Antique Flea Market. Mr. Boss brought in his wife Helene to help manage the Garage and all hell broke loose, nothing ever was the same.
Many dealers were very upset; the morale immediately dropped until eventually, the Bosses depleted whatever we had left. We became dry wells, filled with fear, morose and anger. But very few dealers responded to the Bosses abuse. If you did, the Bosses would throw you out, verbally abuse you or punish you. They were multimillionaires and didn’t give a shit. And they came to the Garage with a chip on their shoulders. The smart thing to do was to keep your mouth shut. Yes sir, Mr. Boss. Yes ma’am, Mrs. Boss. Whatever you say. Whatever you want to do. The dealers ended up walking, not on eggshells, but nails, and their souls, like a coffin, were nailed shut. The dealers were afraid to be humiliated, sentenced and metaphorically placed in the chair seen below. This was not a democracy; it was a regime run by inhumane tyrants. Oh, the humanity of it all is a story unto itself.
First on the agenda was to destroy the reputation of Michael Santulli. Alan Boss was in charge. He specifically informed me and other dealers that Michael ran an ice cream store with dealers receiving free spaces, certain dealers who called couldn’t obtain spots, favoritism for others, but the worst accusation was the stealing of large amounts of money. Pursuant to Alan’s theory Michael stole bags of money. He was a no-good prick, a son of a bitch swindler, who robbed Alan blind. And Alan told me he wanted revenge, he wanted blood, and the thief would have his day if not in court, I’ll tell the world who loved him and then ruin him. Alan was obsessed, for about a year with Michael. He couldn’t stop telling me and other dealers about Michael who happened to be his good friend. Michael was Alan’s best man at his wedding.
The Stolen 1914 Illustration
I interviewed the dealer whose illustration was stolen by Helene Boss, but wants to remain anonymous. The dealer sold at the Garage Antique Flea Market and the 6th Ave flea markets for twelve years. But that did not matter to Helene Boss who was caught on camera stealing the 1914 illustration/painting used on the cover of Vogue at the Showplace Antique + Design Center on 25th Street across from the Chelsea Flea Market. Mrs. Boss walked into the indoor antique center and walked out with the illustration. She’s special! The problem with Mrs. Boss’s brazen theft was that she was caught on video surveillance. The police watched the video and then charged Helene Boss. The theft occurred in May of 2015. The dealer refused Helene’s money saying it was like poison and filed a lawsuit against Mrs. Boss.
For six weeks the police tried to track down Mrs. Boss to question her. She was not to be found at the Chelsea Flea Market nor her apartment in New York. The police issued an arrest warrant for Mrs. Boss. She was wanted and she was on the lam. I found this thrilling and sexy, a miniseries could have been developed.
Finally, the elusive Boss was nabbed at her NY apartment and pursuant to the procedure was handcuffed and taken away by the police. The court hearing was anticlimactic. Helene had a lawyer, but the dealer could not afford an attorney. The District Attorney refused to watch the video of Mrs. Boss stealing the painting. And the judge dismissed the case refusing to allow the dealer to testify. How could Cyrus Roberts Vance Jr., the District Attorney of New York County and his prosecutors allow this to happen? Dealers at the flea market spoke about Alan Boss’s political contacts and contributions. However, I have no direct evidence that this was the reason the District Attorney’s office would not watch the video of Mrs. Boss stealing the painting. (The dealer whose painting was stolen said, “The D.A. would not look at the video as evidence.”)
“To hear the media tell it, Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. is soft on white-collar crime. First came the news that an attorney for Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. had arranged a fund-raiser for Vance after he refused to prosecute them for fraud. Then there was Vance’s decision not to file sexual-assault charges against Harvey Weinstein, even though police had caught the Hollywood mogul on tape confessing to the crime. Last month, spurred by a story in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the state attorney general to investigate Vance’s handling of the case. The incidents have cost the DA: During his uncontested election for a third term in November, 10 percent of voters were so fed up with him that they went to the trouble of writing in someone whose name wasn’t Cy Vance.” https://www.themarshallproject.org/2018/04/29/the-people-vs-cy-vance The Marshall Project, nonprofit journalism about criminal justice. This story was produced in partnership with New York Magazine.
Alan Boss Was a Client of The Number One Lobbyist Firm in NY,
Capalino + Company: Government & Community Relations Strategists.
James Capalino’s political prowess, connections, and ascend to the number one lobbyist firm in New York is well documented by the media, and he has the clout to reposition the Statue of Liberty. In 1972 Capalino joined the staff of Congressman Edward I. Koch. In 1977, he co-managed the mayoral campaign of Congressman Koch when he was elected as the Mayor of New York. Capalino became Commissioner of General Services, a 2,000+ employee, $750 million agency at the age of 28. And James managed the mayor’s third term successful re-election.
“A veteran lobbyist who was a major supporter of Bill de Blasio’s run for mayor in 2013 saw his business nearly double in 2014 after his pal was elected, records show. Jim Capalino reported hauling in $8.2 million from 237 clients last year — up from the $4.6 million earned by his downtown Manhattan firm during the last year of the Bloomberg administration in 2013.”
Lobbyist shoots to #1 in NYC after backing de Blasio for mayor http://nypost.com/2015/03/03/lobbyist-shoots-to-1-in-nyc-after-backing-de-blasio-for-mayor/ By Yoav Gonen and Michael Gartland, March 3, 2015, New York Post
Circa 2005, Julia Capalino, with a couple of classmates at the Spence School, who is the daughter of James Capalino owner of the number one lobbying firm in NY Capalino & Company organized a fund-raising benefit for Obstetric Fistula and a fashion show auction. The people involved were a who’s who in the social elite of high society New York with the likes of Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, Ann Wintour, Diane Von Furstenberg, Prada donating two dresses, Ms. Kebede who modeled for Estee Lauder and others. With no budget, teenager Ms. Capalino and two friends, “Would make city’s veteran party planners blush with envy,” Eric Wilson, May 8, 2005, New York Times.
“After Alan Boss, the owner of the Metropolitan Pavilion and a friend of the Capalino family donated the space and Cipriani contributed the catering, the students approached several designers, steeling their nerves to personally make their case,” Eric Wilson, May 8, 2005, New York Times.
Within a six-month period, Alan raised the rent for the dealers twice at the Garage Antique Flea Market and once for “special spots” that Alan identified as the corner booths of the market, the back wall, the first three booths on the left side wall upstairs and some others, all of this was upstairs. Downstairs, the Bosses brought in a tape measure and raised the price of several spots based on their whimsical thinking. If the spot was big, they would move the dealers out if they didn’t pay extra. In some cases, the Bosses would make one booth into two booths. At least 4 dealers downstairs had their booths rearranged. Some dealers had been with Alan since the 1970s. It didn’t matter. There was realignment, a tightening of booths. And you were no longer allowed to use the booth next to you if it was empty. Very often the Garage had empty booths. Customers would come in and at times half the Garage would be empty. In my opinion, this was part of the Bosses revenge against the dealers and Michael’s idea of making the Garage look full with dealers. Other antique shows and flea markets allow you to spread out.
It is my understanding that during the 39 years of Alan Boss owning the outdoor markets and the Garage, he never raised the rent twice during a six-month period. I believe when Alan took over management from Michael the rent for a single booth was $125.00 plus $10.00 for each table, (three would fill your booth). During a six-month period, it rose to $175.00. I heard he wanted $225.00 for corner booths that were the same size as other booths, but settled for $ 200.00 after a backlash of dealer complaints. But designated special booths by the Bosses were more money. The dealers were livid. Business was bad, very difficult to make a living. I often lost money and was very happy to breakeven. When Alan raised the rent, I said, “Al this is not good timing, business is bad.” He said, “You’ll save money on Christmas gifts to Michael.” Alan informed me Michael was taking bribes. I know years ago when I was earning money, I gave Michael and other employees Christmas gifts.
The dealers thought they were being mistreated by the Bosses. Helene had an unfriendly nasty attitude. She would talk down to you, ignore you, reprimand you or holler and start arguments. A stamp dealer and another dealer were sharing a booth and got into an argument with Helene Boss who threw the dealers out of the Garage.
Alan was a schmoozer and would communicate what he wanted the dealers to know, but had a volatile temper. He screamed at me at the top of his lungs at the outside market on 25th Street because a dealer complained I took photos of her vintage posters and wanted them deleted. Dealers and employees left and some were thrown out of the Garage. Almost all of the dealers began to despise the Bosses and talk about them behind their backs.
Alan Boss Refused to Refund Dealer Deposits For the Chelsea Flea Market
And Was Involved In a Physical Altercation With a Dealer
About a year before Michael was fired, he informed the dealers that Alan wanted a deposit (in the amount of the booth rent) for the last day at the Garage. We assumed Alan wanted protection so that no dealer would skip out and not pay the rent. At a later date before Alan informed us, we were going to sell inside at H&H Bagels after renovation, Michael told us we were going outside at 25th & 6th Ave and that he needed the first month’s rent. Many dealers gave Michael two deposits about $275.00, including me. However, after Michael was fired, dealers asked Alan for the deposit back for the Chelsea Flea Market but Alan refused, saying Michael stole the money. When a dealer argued that Alan was responsible, a fight ensued. Alan threw a trashcan into the dealer’s booth hitting the dealer’s girlfriend. The police arrived and she was taken off in an ambulance. The dealers were scared to ask Alan for the money back because he denied having it and accused Michael of stealing it. You could be talking about twenty-five thousand dollars in deposits. Alan refunded the deposit to the dealer’s girlfriend he hit with a trashcan and one other dealer who had a receipt. About two years before the Garage closed the dealers were informed that they could only pay in cash for their spaces. No checks were allowed. The dealers didn’t receive receipts. I would think the owner has to have some responsibility for this. Michael died. Why didn’t you refund the deposits to the dealers, Alan Boss? Alan instilled fear in the minds of the dealers. According to Alan’s theory, Michael would have collected the money for the deposits secretly for one year without Alan knowing he was collecting deposits for the last day at the Garage and for the Chelsea Flea Market. Highly unlikely. The dealers did not have to pay the rent on the last day at the Garage. We were given credit for the Garage deposit, but not the deposit for the Chelsea Flea Market. A friend of mine who is a dealer spoke to Michael and he informed the dealer that he has a receipt for the dealer’s deposits from the bank, and the money was placed in Alan’s bank account.
Every week there was drama, another incident with the Bosses. But one incident got me so enraged, so filled with tears, that I desperately wanted to confront Alan, but I didn’t. A loyal employee who worked for Alan for probably 10 years or more also helped the dealers load and unload their merchandise. During the summer, in the scorching heat, he would pull an ice chest around and sell water to the dealers and buyers for $1.00. The Bosses charged him rent, $100.00 for Saturday and Sunday. For twelve weeks in the summer, he paid the Bosses $1,200. He was a poor man living in a low rent funded area like the projects, well respected, and was trying to make an extra buck. The Bosses also wanted to charge extra rent to a dealer who was selling his wife’s cookies in his booth. They also asked the bathroom attendant for rent for selling a few items dealers gave her while attending the bathroom.
The bathroom attendant who was a dynamite guy and kept the bathroom clean would arrive at 4 a.m., but the Bosses fired him. The Bosses hired a new woman who arrived at 8 a.m. Some dealers and employees on Saturday would arrive at 2 a.m. The upstairs bathroom was a disgrace, with a broken door, sometimes shit on the floor, nothing to clean yourself with at times. The bathroom attendant would hand out one perforated piece of a paper towel as you left the facility. People would walk into the bathroom while others were on the toilet. She was also in charge of the downstairs bathroom. Whereas when Michael managed the Garage, he had two separate attendants for each bathroom. Was this a form of punishment?
For years there was an immigrant family selling chicken tamales outside the Garage on the sidewalk. They did not block the entrance to the Garage. Helene Boss tried to shake them down for rent money. When they refused to pay, the Bosses engaged in a verbal confrontation and Alan Boss physically kicked their cart. The immigrants left. No more Tamales for you!
During Christmas week a lovely good-hearted dealer who had been with Alan selling for thirty years was involved in an argument with another dealer. The Bosses suspended the dealer for two weeks during Christmas. The dealer was devastated, emotionally and financially. The Bosses were heartless, had no respect for humanity, had power and acted as though they were superior human beings and held us in contempt, egregious behavior, reprehensible to the human spirit.
The Bosses Called us Niggers, Faggots and Animals
During one conversation on the phone with Helene in what she thought was acceptable power, she said to me, “I call blacks niggers, I don’t take shit from anyone.”
In the spring of 2016, Helene Boss, on the bus lot at 39th Street in front of a group of people, said to this dealer who is gay, “Don’t walk away from me faggot.”
One day I was walking outside with Alan in front of the 25th Street Market, now called the Chelsea Flea Market. “Al,” I said, “how’s the new venue going at H&H Bagels.” “Fantastic, we had our first event and we’re booked for others.” He pointed his finger over to the dealers, and said, “You don’t think I’d want those animals in there.” Although I haven’t sold at 25th Street, I thought to myself, I’m one of those people. I’m an animal.
“On more than one occasion, Helene reprimanded a long-time employee, calling him a nigger to his face, loud enough so dealers and buyers could hear.” Several dealers informed me. “Helene has a boyfriend now, his name is Vlad, ironically he’s black.”
I asked a dealer; how do you feel emotionally about the Garage closing?
“This market has been killed ever since the new management, (the Bosses), took over. The market has been ruined for the past year and is slowly going downhill. The customers sense the negative vibe here. I feel something better is coming for the future for all the vendors.”
It’s the end of an era. It’s a family.
“This family will move somewhere else better. The vibe will be positive like it used to be. No one likes coming here. It’s a very negative vibe here. All of the vendors do not like the new management, (the Bosses). When a new market opens somewhere else, (without the Bosses), all the vendors will go there,” anonymous dealer.
The vulgarity of the Bosses treatment of humanity continued as some of the dealers moved outside to the Chelsea Flea Market on 25th Street between 6th and 5th Ave. The Bosses would fight, holler and scream at people. Helene walked around with a tape measure to make sure your tables were not a fraction of an inch over your space regardless if the space next to you was empty. She reprimanded and embarrassed a dealer whose table wasn’t perfectly aligned in the spot. Helene argued with a dealer who refused to pay an extra $20.00 because he didn’t call in advance to reserve his spot. It was winter and the lot was practically empty. The Chelsea Flea Market was fenced in. Some dealers would hang vintage clothes, paintings or other objects on the fence to display. The Bosses began randomly charging the dealers for displaying merchandise on the fence. And they began charging $5.00 to rent the dollies that were not being used. If you hired one of their workers there was no charge for the dolly. A source informed me that Helene bought merchandise from a dealer, but did not pay in full. Months went by and the dealer still can’t receive full payment. Steal from your own family?
On a rainy, windy Saturday in October with the morning low at 49 degrees, four passionate dealers’ setup outside at the Chelsea Flea and weathered the storm. The lot was empty, cold and lonely. A married couple who had sold at the Garage for twenty years and were loyal to the Bosses came to the Chelsea Market on Saturday to leave their merchandise for Sunday. The weather was clearing for Sunday. This was a common practice at the Garage, (at least when Michael was the manager) to leave your merchandise the night before you set up. Helene informed an employee to charge this couple $30.00 for storing their merchandise overnight. Chutzpah! Balls! Soulless! Meanness! Money-monger! Heartless! Egotist! Cruelty!
Chelseagate
A secret underground developed at the Chelsea Flea Market. I called it Chelseagate. There are cameras in the market so the Bosses are able to watch the video from their apartment. And if they don’t like you, they get one of the employees to throw you out of the market. I know at least one person who dresses in incognito, wearing a disguise to enter the market, so the person will not be recognized and tossed out. The Bosses bully people on a whim. They also charge one dollar to enter the market. Some people will not come and are insulted. Dealers were fed up and many have stopped selling. When the dealers moved from the Garage to the outdoor market, the Bosses kicked out most of the dealers who were in place at the Chelsea Flea selling new merchandise. But when antique dealers stopped showing up, they called back the dealers who sold new merchandise. “These dealers have no loyalty,” Alan Boss said. Mr. Boss thinks the dealers should come every week regardless of how they're being treated or how business is. Helene fought with a dealer and hit him with her clipboard. The Bosses were killing their own business.
A source informed me that the person who collects the money from the dealers and one of the managers was robbed at gunpoint of about $14,000.00. The police came with detectives. I was informed by Alan and others that it was an inside job. Now the Bosses hired an armed guard to help collect the money. The Bosses asked employees to take lie detector tests, some agreed, some refused. Some people were fired and some were rehired. A source informed me that a hidden mike was used by an employee who helps collect the money so that she could gather information from the dealers to give to the Bosses. There were surveillance cameras, lie detectors, disguises, a hidden mike, cops, a stolen painting, guns, screaming, fights, the stench of urine, a robbery at gunpoint, eccentrics, an occasional invaluable antique and collectible as Chelseagate swung back and forth from cinema to a flea market.
The Chelsea Flea Market Stunk of Urine
During the years of 2014 and 2015 the dealers would complain that in the back of the flea market it stunk of urine. They would bring bleach and other substances to drown out the smell of urine. The Bosses didn’t bring in the porta-potties until 7:00 am Saturday morning. The employees arrived at 8:00 pm Friday night to setup the spaces with tents and tables when ordered by the dealers. Some dealers would start to arrive at 3 in the morning on Saturday. Where do people go to the bathroom? Against the wall, maybe? Do you think common decency would be to bring the toilets earlier? The stench of humanity covered the Bosses head to toe.
In a newsletter or email, we were notified by the Chelsea Flea Market on January 6, 2015, the dealers would be given a discount. The winter began with no discount and then they changed their policy based on the temperature. If it was 39 degrees or above (I forget the exact requirement), you paid full summer rates. Anything below 39 degrees you received the following discount. It was a brutally cold winter and the mornings were outrageously cold. Sometimes in the late afternoon, the temperature would rise into the 30s, which presented a problem: Do you take the morning temperature or late afternoon. Some dealers would arrive at 3:00 am to begin setup. There were not a lot of dealers who came in the winter of 2014-2015.
New Winter Special: Reduced Vendor Fees
January 6, 2015
You spoke and we listened! Thank you for your feedback!
We've updated our winter vendor special to apply to every weekend in January & February!
Calling all vendors! Did you know that the markets are open every weekend year-round? While the winter months are here, we'd like to warm up your winter woes with our new Winter Policy for Chelsea Flea Market until the end of February 2015.
Chelsea Flea Market
Full Booth reduced to $125 per day from $175
Corner Booth is $150 per day
Half Booth is $100 per day
For Reservations:
Call (212) 243-5343 or
Email info@hellskitchenfleamarket.com
When the Chelsea Flea’s policy was based on temperature, they charged $100.00 per day for a full booth. But as it got colder, they raised the rent to $125.00 a day. Stay with me because the madness gets better.
On March 7, 2015, with ice and snow on the lot where the dealers set up, (a photo of that day is shown below), the price was jacked up to full summer rates.
A dealer emailed me:
“$175. a day or $300. the weekend. We were all horrified that winter rates ended with snow on the ground, people had to shovel out their booths. I’m doing one day it was pretty cold all day 18 when I got there and 36 when I left.”
(I posted the following on Facebook with the photo on 3-8-2015) Once again, I am dumbfounded as to why the dealers were charged full summer rates, $175.00 for the day and $300.00 for the weekend when Saturday the temperature was 18 degrees and the lot was covered in snow and ice. The dealers, with ice picks and shovels in hands, dug out the parking lot so buyers and dealers could walk without breaking their bones.
On a crisp October morning, I visited the Chelsea Flea Market. Helene Boss was standing at the entrance. Before I took out my entrance fee dollar, (the only flea market in NY that charges an entry fee), I said, “Hello Helene.” I was thinking out of a courtesy she would not charge me a dollar as Alan Boss did on occasion. It’s not a big deal. I’ve pissed more dollars away than I’ve urinated throughout my life. But I thought it would be a nice gesture. It was not to be. When I said hello Helene she didn’t respond in words, but rather in a cold evil stare right through me like she was a mental patient in an institution. The Chelsea Flea Market was the place where she acted like an unstable mental patient. I thought, this is a woman who has responded like this before to others and me. She does have a fabulous sense of superiority and deeply pathological problems. She can’t have any friends. She and perhaps Mr. Boss, in my opinion, are her friends. Her evilness is so palpable you can cut it with a knife. The way she talks, the way she walks, the way she looks at you. Sit boy, sit. I am important. I do what I want.
“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?”
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?”
Defaced signs advertising the Chelsea Flea Market began appearing on the streets with beautifully written prose and slogans that read:
“Watch out for the Shoplifter. Helene the Devil’s Daughter.” Beware Helene the horrible.”
“Helene the thief.”
“Beware she who steals. Helene the Gonif.”
They were taken down and an employee was seen carrying them at the Chelsea Flea Market. I’m sure he turned them into the Bosses. They have become collectible. I can’t afford one, out of my league. Two months later another sign appeared. This had real class, humor, poetry and cache baby. I couldn’t afford this if I was a wealthy man.
THE BEAST AND HIS BRIDE
HOPELESS HELLEEN THE KLEPTO QUEEN
Oy vey iz mir, say a few Hail Marys. Don’t look at me. I had nothing to do with this. I’m just the messenger. Though I did get charged up when I discovered this. It was as good as an orgasm.
When Helene Boss wasn’t fighting with dealers, buyers and employees, she would have a senior citizen boxing match on the streets of New York.
Town & Village Blog
Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Gramercy, Watersid
April 15, 2015 Police Watch:
SENIORS ARRESTED FOR FIGHT ON IRVING PLACE
“Police arrested two people involved in a fight in front of 76 Irving Place last Monday at 10:43 p.m. Seventy-year-old Helene Boss and 63-year-old Meryl Modica were both charged with assault and Modica was also charged with criminal mischief. Boss allegedly punched Modica in the head and face and police said that Modica punched Boss in the face, breaking her glasses and causing pain to her left eye.”
From Town-Village.com Police Watch
Below is an email I received from Alan Boss:
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Boss
To: larry
Sent: Wed, Oct 14, 2015 5:53 pm
Subject: Re: Larry Baumhor
From: Alan Boss
To: larry
Sent: Wed, Oct 14, 2015 5:53 pm
Subject: Re: Larry Baumhor
“You can try to publish your book but will be sued by me every step of the way. If you want your alleged deposits you will have to speak to Santulli. If he did collect them, they never made it to my business account. He maligned his own character by being a thief and a liar. The Garage was always private property even though it was open to the public just as is Chelsea Flea Market from which you are now barred. It's a private property open to the public from which I can prevent undesirables like yourself from attending. You sure turned out to be a two-faced pussy. You must have learned that from your friend Santulli.”
“You are an undesirable and barred from the Chelsea Flea Market,” Flea Market Nazi.
I sent Alan Boss the following email:
Do you understand why you can't sell out your market? You and Helene killed your own business. Most people despise you and Helene. They are fearful of you. You lost at least half of your dealers. They refuse to absorb your abuse. You and Helene abuse people, lie, talk down to people, argue, threaten, punish, and scream. You're not humans. You and Helene are thieves. You stole the dealer's deposits; you owe me money and Helene stole a painting from a dealer. She owes money to a dealer. I know all the stories. Are you familiar with the Soup Nazi from Seinfield? You and your wife are Flea Market Nazis. You're done! I've got all the recipes, all the stories and I'm writing a book about you and Helene. It's over Flea Market Nazi. I've got, wild-mushroom, mulligatawny, cold cucumber, corn and crab chowder. I know it all!
You and Helene should be in jail for cruel and unusual punishment. Shame on the both of you! You, Helene and the Soup Nazi are done. You and Helene are immediately to stop bullying, stealing, and hurting my friends. Show some humanity, dignity, and respect. You are a pathological liar, evil, malicious, and inhumane. I've never met anyone with such contemptible souls. You are on another planet. Are you running a concentration camp? Pay the dealers the money you owe them and stop violating city codes.
You and Helene should be in jail for cruel and unusual punishment. Shame on the both of you! You, Helene and the Soup Nazi are done. You and Helene are immediately to stop bullying, stealing, and hurting my friends. Show some humanity, dignity, and respect. You are a pathological liar, evil, malicious, and inhumane. I've never met anyone with such contemptible souls. You are on another planet. Are you running a concentration camp? Pay the dealers the money you owe them and stop violating city codes.
Larry Baumhor
Alan Boss responds with an email:
From
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Alan Boss
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To
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Larry
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Wed, Oct 14, 2015 6:03 pm
“I am surprised you weren't shaken down by your friend Santulli for holiday money like most of the vendors. You mean to say he didn't hand you a card at holiday time with his P.O. Box # on it for you to fill and send to him? For so many years of too much rent money that I never received. After driving the business away so that when I took back my own business there were so few vendors left. My wife has resuscitated the business to the point that vendors can once again make a living and all they have to do is pay rent and Santulli cannot make deals on space without my knowledge and pocket the money. But in the end, justice was served.”
Alan:
The Bosses destroyed the business. In lieu of resuscitating they sucked the life out of everyone.
Two more emails from Alan Boss:
From
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Alan Boss
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To
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Larry
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Wed, Oct 14, 2015 6:57 pm
“You should always hear both sides of every story before drawing conclusions. There are quite a few vendors that are treated very well because they are nice people. They continue to do well and know where they make their money. Malcontents, who are never happy, are who they are and are treated the way THEY treat others. You can characterize me as a Nazi but I run a business to make a profit. My profit depends on whether or not vendors are doing well enough to continue paying me rent. There many costs beside my rent. Some of those include insurance, maintenance, repairs, salaries, marketing. What is not included is making it all work and do so continuously. I spent a number of years away from the business because of malcontents. Now that I have been involved again I have decided to not allow the malcontents to prevail. That being said, let the chips fall where they may.”
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
From
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Larry
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To
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Alan Boss
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Thu, Oct 15, 2015 10:59 am
Alan Boss:
Besides my lawsuit, I’m considering filing a class action lawsuit against you. What are you going to tell the judge that Michael worked for you for 16 years and he was best man at your wedding? Then he died and went to heaven with the deposits. And your Honor I did return the refunds of two dealers (that I know of) which I realize is an admission of guilt, but I’m Alan Boss and I can do what I want. I have a dealer that will testify that Michael did make the deposit in your account.
I am specifically requesting that you refund the deposits to the dealers.
By the way, when you informed all the dealers, the press, and in an interview with me that we were moving indoors to H&H Bagels was that a lie or was that just part of the Alan Boss psyche?
After ten years of selling in the booth next to Roberta, I was moved under the ramp with rats, and garbage. And when I wasn’t under the ramp Helene would look at the space and charge me for ¾ of a space in lieu of half of a space. I was being punished because I was too nice and I was giving you photos of the Garage that you never paid me for. When I had my operation and almost died and lost my car, you refused to let me use part of a dealer’s booth without paying. You and Helene's m.o. are punishment, verbal abuse, screaming, banning, suspending, stealing, shakedowns, fighting, lies, and instilling fear.
I’ll see you in court.
Larry Baumhor
The Bosses had problems at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market at 39th St. & 9th Ave with both the dealers and the city of NY.
The Manhattan Community Board Four wrote a permit letter for Alan Boss' Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market for 2016 to be approved by the Street Activity Permit Office, (SAPO). Alan Boss paid $25,000 to his own nonprofit, earning only about $385.00 in profit each weekend for 5 years, ($192.00 in profit each day for Saturday and Sunday) from 2010 through 2014 at 39th St, Hell's Kitchen Flea. Alan Boss has to pay 25% of his profit after all expenses to a nonprofit. According to sources involved with the permit renewal process, they cannot verify if Alan Boss is paying or has paid any rent to the city of New York for the flea market on the street. There is a small bus lot at 39th & 9th Ave owned by the Port Authority which is not subject to the SAPO regulations or the permit stipulations. Alan Boss subleases the bus lot from the bus company who leases the lot from The Port Authority. Hell's Kitchen started in May of 2003. Alan filed papers for a nonprofit in 2012, but paid no money to a charity claiming he did not get a tax-exempt from the IRS until 2015.
A member of the Street Vendor Project stated that Alan said, “The market wasn’t profitable until 2010.” Alan Boss was supposed to start paying 25% of his profits to a charity beginning in 2006. However, from 2006 through 2009, Alan Boss earned zero profits. A member of the Street Vendor Project, part of the Urban Justice Center, filed A Freedom Of Information Act request for all documents related to Hell’s Kitchen with the Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO). SAPO said they would comply but they don’t have to hold documents beyond a certain amount of years. According to my source, no one knows what Alan Boss paid between May of 2003 through 2005 to lease the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market owned by the city of New York.
When Alan Boss first opened Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, he was crowded with vendors, and sometimes would almost sell out. I personally was at Hell’s Kitchen several times early in its inception and it was loaded with dealers and buyers. On one occasion I took the shuttle which ran between the Garage Antique Flea Market and the Chelsea Flea Market. In my opinion, and based on conversations with other dealers, Hell's Kitchen could have possibly taken in up to a million dollars a year during the first few years.
WHERE’S THE MONEY
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| Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market from Annexmarkets.com |
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on 39th Street holds 200 dealers or more. Several news media outlets and the Hell’s Kitchen website boasted the flea market was drawing up to 170 dealers. “But vendors say things went downhill about two years ago after a longtime manager left and the Bosses took a hands-on role at the markets. Many sellers fled, leaving the Hell’s Kitchen market — which once had some 170 vendors — a shell of what it was, they say,” New York Post, December 6, 2015, by Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein.
With complaints against the Bosses running roughshod and abusing dealers, it appears that the Manhattan Community Board Four, SAPO, and the Street Vendor Project are trying to tame the willy-nilly management tactics of the Bosses that have hurt many dealers.
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
Category: Business Development
Subcategory: Government Procurement
Problem: “As a result of a change in zoning and the subsequent development of parking lot parcels along Sixth Avenue in the late 1990s, our client, the Annex Antique Fair and Flea Market, one of the most famous antiques market in the world, realized that it would soon need to relocate.
Strategy: Capalino+Company proposed a community board task force to explore alternative sites and to document the economic importance of the market. Following the issuance of the Task Force report, we briefed representatives of the NYC Economic Development Corporation and Deptartment of City Planning to enlist their support. During the next phase, we coordinated a careful evaluation of three alternative sites and finally determined, in coordination with government and community leaders, that a site on 39th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues would represent the best solution to operate the market, while at the same time, catalyze economic activity in an under-utilized area.
Result: In April 2003, the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market was officially granted a Street Activity Permit to operate the market every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year. It has been a resounding success and an example of community pride. Capalino+Company also assisted HKFM in the deployment of its marketing strategy by brokering strategic partnerships with Time Out Magazine and M@xRacks. http://www.capalino.com/hells-kitchen-flea-market/ Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market
September 25, 2010
Alan Boss is seeking to renew his yearly permit with the city, and a Community Board 4 committee will take up the issue Monday. He said the foundation got tax-exempt status from the IRS this year, took in $1,255 the last two months and planned to offer grants to community artists next year. He said he has contributed to community organizations in the past.
Business was so good, the Bosses plunked down $5 million to buy a 4,200-square-foot Gramercy Park townhouse from Uma Thurman in 2005.
A former Hell’s Kitchen vendor said she watched the Bosses kick over the tables of merchants. Other vendors described yelling, cursing and racist epithets.
‘THEY’VE MADE OLD PEOPLE CRY. THEY’VE MADE LITTLE KIDS CRY’
- DEBBIE LEONARD, A FORMER VENDOR
“They’ve made old people cry. They’ve made little kids cry,” said Debbie Leonard, who left The Garage market to open her own store. Leonard said she once saw Boss kick a homeless man.
Boss denied the allegations. He admitted knocking a cup of hot coffee from a man outside the market whom he had banned.
“You must understand that these people are of a different ilk than people that work 9 to 5,” he said.
Helene Boss has been arrested twice this year. She was charged in April with assault after allegedly fighting on Irving Place with a 63-year-old neighbor, and she was accused in June of petty larceny and possessing stolen property after allegedly swiping an illustration from the wall of a West 25th Street shop.
Public records show that Boss was also arrested for shoplifting in Florida in the early 1990s under the name Helen Rottblatt. She denied committing each of the crimes,” New York Post by By Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein, December 6, 2015 | 6:34am.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the quote of the entire history of flea markets: "Helene Boss also spoke up in defense of herself, calling the Post “a rag” that published “unsubstantiated, untrue allegations.” While acknowledging that she is tough, she insisted, “I run a clean operation,” and had a vested interest in “protecting my vendors.”
http://chelseanow.com/2015/12/cb4-key-to-flea-markets-plea/, by Chelsea Now. by Scott Stiffler on December 9, 2015. Additional reporting for this article was provided by Winnie McCroy.
Alan Boss was charged with misdemeanor assault in July in what police said was a domestic abuse incident at the couple’s townhouse. The case is still pending.
“I was drunk,” Alan Boss said. He declined to elaborate further. https://nypost.com/2019/12/28/famed-manhattan-flea-market-frequented-by-andy-warhol-is-closing/ Famed Manhattan Flea Market Frequented By Andy Warhol Is Closing by Jon Levine and Melissa Klein, December 28, 2019 | 5:31pm |
And on and on and on and on. Almost every week. Abuse after abuse! Stop lying Alan and Helene Boss. We all know what you have done and continue to do.
A dealer informed me that, “Yesterday Helene was so cruel to this old man who had half a space over a few inches. She threatened to kick over his tables and then she picked up a tray of rings and asked him if he'd like it if she threw it all over the lot. It was sad.”
I heard Helene called the police on Saturday at the Chelsea Flea Market because a former vendor was talking to someone over the fence. “Alan accused the vendor of being a thief. The Bosses are lying to the police when they throw dealers out. They tell the police the person was trying to steal,” a dealer said.
“I was an emotional wreck. Helene ran me ragged. She thought I was a nobody, a dumb old woman,” stated one vendor.
Helene Boss falsely accuses a dealer of prostitution,
and another dealer of prostituting her 12-year-old daughter.
April Summers, a former dealer at the Chelsea Flea Market told the following story at a Manhattan Community Board Four meeting with about 50 people present including the Bosses at the beginning of December 2015: The female dealer was set up at the Chelsea Flea Market. Her 12-year-old daughter was selling baked goods on the sidewalk to raise money for school. The dealer did not earn enough money to pay Helene the rent. Helene said give me your daughter’s money. The dealer refused. Helene began cursing at the dealer in front of her child.
At the meeting the dealer informed everyone that Helene Boss told her husband that she reported to the Administration for Children’s Services, Division of Child Protection, that his wife was involved in prostituting her 12-year-old daughter at the Chelsea Flea Market. April Summers daughter tried to speak at the meeting, saying it was a big deal, traumatic, but couldn’t continue and began crying. The human beings at the meeting were shell-shocked. Helene Boss did not utter a word. The Division of Child Protection visited the house of the dealer and daughter asking questions and interviewing them. They said we don’t believe this complaint and dropped the charges.
This is not the first time Helene Boss accused a dealer of prostitution.
September 26, 2016, I had a conversation with an anonymous dealer:
“They so messed with my life.”
What did they do?
“She [Helene Boss] slandered me. Told people that I was a prostitute and that I was having sex in my booth. She called people and told them this. I got very, very depressed over it.
And then the way they made their business fall apart. And you know their business with our business. After leaving my merchandise on the table Saturday night at the Garage, I came in Sunday morning and everything was on the floor, including things that were broken. They said I didn’t rent the booth for the entire weekend.
“Just a total nightmare
Too many stories to tell”
“People actually thought that I was a prostitute. Because that's what she was saying to people. And people were saying that I had a porn site, my own porn site.
You know people that don't have the Internet that don't know how to search online what people really are. It was so crazy, I'm a pretty visible person if you search me out. Nothing at all to hide. But it was damaging.”
Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear this. I have inside stories that will blow your mind and make you feel better. You keep doing your thing. They are sick, evil people.
You're very special. I know it hurts, but you're dealing with people who abuse and steal from others. They have no credibility as humans. You are well loved. I hope we can talk one day. You take care of yourself!, I responded.
“Honey you know I know I'm special. Thank you, you are too. It's just that those horrible people deserve justice.”
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I'll be thinking about you! I said.
I was informed by a dealer that Helene Boss kicked a vendor in the shins and pushed another vendor against the wall at the Chelsea Flea Market.
Apparently, the dealers from the Garage Antique Flea Market were not the only people who can’t get their deposits back from the Bosses. A dealer at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market wanted spots 1 and 2. The regular vendor was recovering from an illness. Helene Boss asked for a $500.00 deposit. The dealer acquiesced and paid $500.00 in cash. Helene wrote a receipt for the dealer. The next week when the dealer tried to set up at Hell’s Kitchen, spots 1 and 2 were filled, and not by the vendor who was out with an illness. When the dealer requested his deposit back, Helene refused to return his money. Street Vendor Project, division of the Urban Justice Center, is supposed to sue Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on behalf of the vendor.
On Saturday January 31, 2016 the weekend after 26.8 inches of snow blanketed Central Park, (26.9 is the record, missed by 0.1) the lot at the Chelsea Flea was not completely clear of snow. I was informed the people who own the parking lot did plow, but many of the approximate 25 dealers cleared a path in and around their booths. The temperature in the morning was 28 degrees and jumped to a blistering high in the 30s in the late afternoon. From the goodness of their hearts the Bosses deducted $25.00 in rent from $175.00 for a regular size booth. And get this: they still charged $1.00 admission. But the Bosses decency didn’t last long. Regular price for Sunday. I would have taken the $25.00 and said no thank you, you need it more than us and then spit in their faces, it’s just a fantasy.
The dealers at Hell’s Kitchen at 39th Street received a $20.00 discount this winter, $70.00 instead of $90.00. They’re very busy and God forbid the Bosses should lose money. On January 31, 2016 the Bosses kept the 39th street opened with 4 vendors selling on the street and 3 vendors selling in the small lot owned by the bus authority. On the weekend of January 30, and 31, 2016 at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on 39th Street there was no attendant for the market, no information booth and no site manager for the full weekend in blatant violation of the Bosses new permit regulations.
In another interesting development, the Street Vendor Project was informed by Helene Boss that the dealer who gave Helene a $500.00 deposit with her written receipt is not getting the money back because he didn’t come to the market when he made a reservation. The dealer denies this allegation. And the street Vendor Project is suing Helene Boss in small claims court on behalf of the dealer.
The Street Vendor Project, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act requested from the Street Activity Permit Office SAPO, (a division of the mayor’s office), all documents being legal or not, related to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market. The documents should have dated from their opening in May of 2003 through 2015. The Street Vendor Project, according to my source, received about 900 pages of information from 2012 through 2015. What was discovered among the documents was that Alan Boss was supposed to pay 20% of the revenues taken in from the vendors each month to the city of New York for rent. During the winter Alan was claiming about $1,200.00, other months 4 to 6 thousand in revenues and as high as $35,000 for a month. This money does not include the 25% Alan Boss has to pay a charity for the profits earned. However, at this point, we are not certain of what Alan has paid to the city from May of 2003 through 2011. The Street Vendor Project is supposed to call the permit board to see if there are more documents. Don’t hold your breath.
During a meeting on February 8, 2016, with the Quality of Life Committee, a division of the Manhattan Community Board Four regarding Hell’s Kitchen Flea, Scott Isebrand, who is COO for the Bosses' at the Metropolitan Pavilion, mentioned that audited financials for the flea market were provided. Alan Boss corrected Scott, saying that the financials were not audited and could not be because of the “cash” nature of his business.
I had a dream that I was completely in charge of running the Chelsea Flea Market. And here’s what I did: I took out full-page ads in the New York Times and the Post or Daily News, and the trade papers, stating the market has a new owner and it’s sold out with the maximum amount of 150 dealers. All new fresh antiques and collectibles. There is no admission charge to enter. I called all the dealers who were thrown out or stop going because of the Bosses. The first weekend I offered free rent for every dealer. I brought in the porta-potties Friday at 6:00 pm before anyone arrived. I had meetings with everyone and talked to them with respect. I informed everyone I was dropping the rent starting the second weekend from $175.00 to $100.00 and if there are empty spots they could spread out for free. I began to pay all of the workers who used to get paid at the Garage and now most of them work on tips. No more extra charges to rent the dolly or display merchandise on the fence or any other trumped up charges. I had a dream last night!
A source informed me that management at the Chelsea Flea Market are sometimes charging dealers to park in certain areas on 25th St. A friend, who is a dealer, informed me he was charged $30.00 to park on the street in front of the Chelsea Flea Market.
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| Metaphorically, the Bosses said we can do what we want to you and openly stuck their tongues out at us and said fuck you. |
On May 1, 2016, a dreary miserable Sunday, with only one tent remaining in the left corner of the west Chelsea Flea Market, a fire began in the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava next to the flea market on the east side of the lot. There were no injuries. The church built circa 1850s conducted Easter Services the day of the fire. Over the years the church hosted dignitaries, pedestrians and celebrities, the likes of Edith Wharton were married there. The church burned and burned and burned some more, weeping tears of flames enveloped this 19th century church where children loved, prayed, learned and played. The camaraderie was deep, etched in the souls of the people weeping red tears as they watched in horror the destruction of their beloved sanctuary. This was the refuge, strength and support of New York’s Serbian Orthodox community.
A total of three Orthodox Churches throughout the world, Sydney Australia, Melbourne, Australia and 25th Street in NY were burned on May 1, 2016, Easter. One month later the New York Fire and Police Department still have no answer to the cause of this suspicious fire. One theory is that the Pope refused to canonize Croatian, Aloysius Cardinal Stepinac from WWII who was an alleged Nazi sympathizer and in retaliation the church was burned. Another theory is that the caretaker collected all of the candles at the end of mass on Sunday and placed them in a box, smoldering under a piece of furniture.
“The whole roof is wooden truss. It’s gone,” Liam Stack and Annie Correal, N.Y. Times.
A source informed me that they spoke to the firemen and police, and that they have to bring equipment into the lot, the church has tons of debris, the roof is not secure and that likely the flea market will not open for a month. I posted this information on my Facebook Photography page. I was crucified by another dealer:
“Fuck off. You’re not part of this market anymore. You were informed not to come to this market. It’s none of your business. Get a life. Kiss your mommy goodnight and the sun will come out tomorrow,” stated dealer Andre Burgos.
I replied, “I believe my source and story to be true. If you don’t like what I write get off of my fucking page. You have no right to tell me what to write.” I was wrong. Or was I? The market opened Friday night as employees arrived at 8:00 pm and some dealers arrived at 12:00 am to set up for Saturday morning. Four full days after the fire, half of the market was open for business as usual. People were in shock as they looked at the west side of the market and saw a skeleton with a roof that looked flappable and enough debris to start a forest fire and irritate your lungs.
On 5-21-2016 the police barricades were moved further west in the Chelsea Flea Market lot to make room for the operational removal of toxic debris from the church. Tons of debris was inside the barricades from the church. How it got there, I don't know. There were 3 bulldozers lifting the debris, (hazardous material), into the dumpsters. Toxic dust was in the air and some people were covering their mouths with their shirts. I heard a couple of people used respiratory masks to cover their mouth and nose.
The Bosses were not at the market early in the morning, but I'm sure they were watching at home from their video. How do you let people work in this? They still charged $1.00 to get in. Was this a safe environment to work in?
“The Buildings Department said the damage left the church “unstable” during inclement weather and winds exceeding 25 mph.
“There has been a preliminary determination that the structure is compromised,” a rep for the department told The Post. “We will determine what steps must be taken to mitigate any safety risks posed by the property.”
News that the cathedral would be go under the wrecking ball stunned churchgoers.
“I’m devastated,” said Hovig Melkonian. “It’s a beautiful historical and symbolic church for the Serbian Orthodox community. It’s deeply upsetting. I thought it was a landmark.” The church was granted landmark status by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1968.
The New York Times New York Serbian Church Gutted by Fire Won’t Be Demolished, for Now By DAVID W. DUNLAP June 14, 2016
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| A dealer’s rack next to the debris from the church fire |
Many tents that were stored in the back of the flea market next to the church were damaged from the fire. Some dealers purchased their own tents for protection from the environment and their merchandise. When the Bosses bought new tents to rent for $20.00 per day or $35.00 for the weekend, they forced the dealers to rent the tents from the Bosses. If the dealers used their own tents for the weekend, they were charged $35.00 for the weekend, stated an anonymous dealer.
Facebook 8-18 & 8-19-2016
Larry Baumhor's Photography
21 hrs ·
A DISGRACEFUL FLEA MARKET THAT HAS NO CONCERN FOR HUMANITY
The Chelsea Flea Market is open. This is better than an SNL skit except there are human lives who were attacked and being a local crime scene with New Yorkers on high alert they could still be attacked. Police, special enforcement, the FBI, the National Guard are involved. The streets are shut down including 25th Street. Apparently, the only way to make sense of this is the Chelsea Flea Market wants to collect the rent for today. This entire area is a fluid crime scene.
This reminds me of five days after the church burned down the market was open. Authorities were not sure if it was a terrorist attack or candles that caused the fire. Weeks later the construction workers with huge trucks were cleaning out the church. Many workers were wearing masks because of the ash and debris in the air. One buyer was walking around the flea wearing a mask. The church and the Post declared the church was unstable, the NY Times said it was stable. There were other sources stating it was unsafe, but yet the flea remained opened. About one day after the fire the Annex Flea Market site stated that they will keep people posted on whether the flea will be open on Saturday.
Larry Baumhor's Photography In the middle of a terror attack with two bombs placed in the area, (both outside), one detonating and injuring 29 people and property and Chelsea closed down, it is self-serving, rationalizing and dangerous to open the flea market. You were in a terror zone that was active. Many dealers couldn't attend. And there were not many buyers and dealers. I received several reports the lot was empty. Stores were open but the lot is outdoor with easy access. Dollars were collected to enter the lot, but there was no metal detector. There was at least one terrorist on the lam. The logistics of getting to the market were nearly impossible. To close and open next week and play on the safe side was the right thing to do. If a bomb went off, you'd have a different opinion. To become martyrs to sell at a flea market during a terror attack is inconceivable, yet I understand and appreciate your passion to sell. The flea markets are connected to Capalino's lobbyist firm who has strong connections throughout the city. Thank God everyone is OK. I wish you success in the future. I think of you often as I look at the glasses you gave me that are in my living room.
Larry Baumhor's Photography The history of what the flea markets do to people is one of stealing, and abusing dealers. The flea markets have been run into the ground; many dealers won't sell there because of the abuse. You're speaking out of fear. That's what the flea market does to people. The flea market is a very anxious place to work as they have no concern for humanity. You know it. And you are in denial. The dealers are not treated like human beings but like animals under a dictatorship. And if you don't respond accordingly, they'll throw you out of the market. It's the only flea that charges a dollar to enter in NY. They get in your face with verbal abuse and unrealistic demands, embarrass dealers. I heard if you don't rent a tent and use your own they charged you an extra $35.00. Don't make a fool out of yourself. Everyone knows what's going on, including you. Why don’t you tell the truth about what’s happening and the way people are treated at the flea market, because you are afraid of getting thrown out.
You should try to learn more about what happened in Chelsea. The entire Chelsea area was shut down and the news this morning was that one suspect was on the lam. And as I’m writing the suspect is in custody as he had a shootout with police in Linden, NJ. Early Sunday morning people in Chelsea were told to stay inside and stay away from your windows. Governor Cuomo Calls NYC Chelsea Explosion “Act of Terrorism.” A bomb at 23rd and 27th St, outside. Another bomb was found in Seaside, NJ. And it was very important for an outside flea market on 25th St. to stay open and collect one dollar to get in with all streets blocked.
You should try to learn more about what happened in Chelsea. The entire Chelsea area was shut down and the news this morning was that one suspect was on the lam. And as I’m writing the suspect is in custody as he had a shootout with police in Linden, NJ. Early Sunday morning people in Chelsea were told to stay inside and stay away from your windows. Governor Cuomo Calls NYC Chelsea Explosion “Act of Terrorism.” A bomb at 23rd and 27th St, outside. Another bomb was found in Seaside, NJ. And it was very important for an outside flea market on 25th St. to stay open and collect one dollar to get in with all streets blocked.
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On Sunday, 9-18-16, a bomb exploded, fortunately, the second bomb did not detonate, as Chelsea was terrorized the dealers trickled in later in the day with very few buyers. The Bosses were victorious once again as they charged $300.00 to the dealers for weekend rentals and $1.00 to enter the market. The question I cannot get answered, were the dealers who only booked a booth for Sunday and did not set up charged $150.00 for the day? Pursuant to the Chelsea Flea Market policy if you reserve a booth and don’t cancel it by Friday, you are charged for Sunday.
Helene Boss Stabbed a Dealer in The Neck With a Pencil
There are now signs on the entrance to the Chelsea Flea Market Prison at 25th Street. The Warden, Alan Boss, and the Penal Officer, Helene Boss, have a right to refuse entry, remove anyone, (even lie to the police and falsely accuse people
of stealing). The penal officer has the right to stab you in the neck with a pencil like a Hitchcockian act of rage which Helene Boss did sometime in May of 2017 to a dealer over a petty argument. I confirmed this with 6 dealers and employees. I tried to get the dealer’s name and phone number who was stabbed, forget it, I’d have a better chance of hitting the lottery. The problem is getting details as everyone is petrified of being removed from the market by the Bosses, if they talk to me. Many people refuse, some say, I don’t want to talk about it, and others lie, saying they have no information. Here’s a conversation I had with one dealer:
Do you know what happened to the dealer who was stabbed in the neck by Helene?
Dealer: “I don't fuckin’ care what Helene does. No one else does either. It is just entertainment and gossip for the yentas. I have my own bullshit to deal with. I don’t give a fuck. I am not her keeper or spouse. If you have a problem with her, deal with it. Most people laugh at it or don’t give a fuck.”
She stabs a dealer in the neck with a pencil, stole deposits from dealers, stole a painting from a dealer, called human services lying that a dealer is selling her kid as a prostitute, called a gay dealer a faggot, abuses most people, and on and on and on, and you’re calling it gossip and entertainment. Shame on you!
People don’t like me at the Chelsea Flea Market. I’m treated as the enemy. What’s the big deal, I’m banned anyway?
Here’s what the buyer told me who tried to enter the only flea market in NY to charge admission. “I use quarters when l go. I tried nickels and dimes but they refused me admission.”
Another buyer informed me that the Chelsea Flea Market “does not open until 6:30 am! And they raised the price to five bucks (until 8:00)! Starting at 8 am the price is $1.00.”
During the rush hour commute and Friday evening, “December 15, 2017, 1 to 2 inches of snow was forecasted for most of the New York City area, but some areas may see more than 2 inches, especially eastern Long Island and parts of coastal New Jersey. A winter weather advisory was issued for most of the area until late Friday night.”
The Chelsea Flea Market on Saturday morning December 16, 2017 appears that no shoveling or plowing was done, leaving the lot unsafe for dealers and buyers.
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| As CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported On or about 8-5-17, about twelve of these posters were taped to the walls and fence inside the Chelsea Flea Market at 25th & 6th Ave, depicting Donald Trump and Helene Boss. They were eventually taken down. |
“Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market Has Merged with Chelsea Flea Market”
The aforementioned quote was on the front page of the www.annexmarkets.com. website owned by the Bosses for information about the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market and the Chelsea Flea Market.
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market at 39th & 9th Street is permanently out of business. December 29th and 30th, 2018 was its death. According to one vendor the Bosses did not inform the dealers until two weeks before closing. When the vendors called for reservations they were informed of the closing. The policy for the flea markets is that the vendors had to make reservations by Thursday before the weekend they were selling. If vendors showed up without reservations, they were charged more money. This policy was also attempted to be enforced at the Chelsea Flea Market which caused conflicts between the Bosses and the dealers. Furthermore, as of 2-5-2019, there is rampant talk and speculation that the Chelsea Flea Market is in jeopardy of closing.
I spoke to Dawn Tolson, the director of (SAPO) Street Activity Permit Office on 1-8-2019, whose office is responsible for events in the streets of NY. Dawn said, “in 2006 or 2007 the city placed a moratorium on multi-block and multi-day events for the streets of NY. You cannot get an outdoor permit for a flea market in NY. However, you can get a permit for a single block one-day event. The Bosses in a written letter to Dawn said that they were not going to renew their permit for 2019.” Even if the Bosses wanted to renew now, they could not because it’s too late, nor can anyone else ask for a permit for 39th Street. There is no longer any opportunity to open a flea market on the streets of NY, which includes all the boroughs. However, you can open a flea market on the sidewalk of a church and negotiate with them, but you cannot go into the street. SAPO holds a hearing once a year on whether to keep the moratorium. The public can attend these hearings. The interesting thing is that the Bosses knew they were not going to renew their permit. But did not inform the dealers until two weeks before the end of their permit agreement in 2018.
Dawn Tolson said “there is a moratorium on multi-day fairs and flea markets because at one point they had 400 street fairs. Street fairs and flea markets with multi-day closures are considered the same. There was a lack of resources that were becoming strained such as police, sanitation, etc. Therefore, the city was forced to have a moratorium. There is a public hearing once a year and the public can vote regarding the moratorium. Only two people showed up and did not vote in 2018. There are no flea markets currently operating in the streets of the five boroughs of NY.” With only two people from the public attending the moratorium meeting, this begs the question of whether the moratorium meeting was publicized.
These flea markets and Street fairs must be non-profit and have a million dollars’ worth of liability insurance. It’s ridiculous to think that Hell’s Kitchen which opened in 2003 at 39th Street was not earning any profit. In the first few years, there were many dealers renting space, approximately up to 180 dealers per weekend. They were taking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue during the year. I am unaware of a nonprofit organization set up with the Board of Directors, and no artists were given grants in the early years of the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market.
Hell's Kitchen Flea Market started in May of 2003. Alan filed papers for a nonprofit in 2012 but paid no money to a charity claiming he did not get a tax- exempt from the IRS until 2015.
A member of the Street Vendor Project stated that Alan said, “The market wasn’t profitable until 2010.” Alan Boss was supposed to start paying 25% of his profits to a charity beginning in 2006. However, from 2006 through 2009, Alan Boss earned zero profits.
“Hell's Kitchen Flea Market gave 25% of annual profits to Hell's Kitchen Foundation, Inc., the 501(c)(3) non-profit sponsor of the flea market. The Foundation awards grants to Hell's Kitchen artists to help them pursue their art projects while living in an increasingly expensive neighborhood,” www.annexmarkets.com, a tribute to Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market.
“The neighborhood was less gentrified then,” remarked Alan Boss, President of Hell's Kitchen Flea Market and Chelsea Flea Market. “Parking lots and rundown storefronts have given way to trendy brunch spots and boutique hotels. Hell's Kitchen Flea Market brought a lot of shoppers to that area for the first time, from all over the world, too. We’re proud to have played a significant role in improving that area for residents and local businesses,” www.annexmarkets.com, tribute to Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market.
Were the Bosses involved in any shenanigans? New York lobbyist James Capalino and Alan Boss were friends. Capalino was hired by Boss to navigate the inner workings and procedures of NY flea markets.
Did the boat that Capalino and Boss were riding take a wrong turn? Were favors given to Boss regarding his flea market enterprise? We may never know.
Alan Boss was boasting to a dealer that he contributed campaign funds to Mayor Bill de Blasio. Boss also showed the dealer a photo of him and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“A top city lobbyist and pal of Mayor Bill de Blasio has agreed to a $40,000 settlement with the state’s ethics watchdog that investigated his dealings with a non-profit created to promote the mayor’s agenda.
Lobbyist James Capalino donated $10,000 and raised another $90,000 from clients for de Blasio’s Campaign for One New York at the request of Ross Offinger, the mayor’s campaign treasurer.”
“Lobbyist James Capalino is back pulling strings at City Hall
Afterward, doors opened at City Hall for Capalino and his clients, according to the 6-page settlement posted Monday by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics.
“Shortly after the contributions were made to CONY, respondent Capalino coordinated with Offinger, which respondent Capalino described to clients as a ‘kitchen cabinet.’ After several adjournments, a breakfast meeting was held in September of 2015, between the mayor, Capalino and clients of respondent Capalino and Associates who had made the contribution,” the JCOPE report said.
The settlement with Capalino notes that the state Lobbying Act “prohibits any lobbyist from offer[ing] a gift to any public official, unless under the circumstances, it is not reasonable to infer that the gift was intended to influence such public officials,’’ adding that “a gift may not be given to a third party, including a charitable organization, on behalf of or at the designation or recommendation of a public official. . .”
“De Blasio’s political operation set up CONY to raise money to promote his policy agenda, including his universal pre-K and affordable housing initiatives during his first term.
CONY was shut down amid federal and state pay-to-play investigations into allegations that de Blasio’s team was hitting up donors with business before the city. No charges were filed against the mayor.
Capalino agreed to pay the $40,000 without admitting to violating any laws.
“I have long admired Mayor de Blasio for his commitment to fighting for solutions to the problem of income inequality such as creating more affordable housing and universal pre-k. That is why I proudly agreed to support the Campaign for One,” Capalino said in a statement.
But he added, “I should have been more sensitive to how my support might appear. While there was no finding by JCOPE that I violated the law and I believe we would have prevailed had this gone to hearing, I look forward to putting this behind us and focusing on what our firm does best by providing the highest quality of strategic guidance.”
Capalino was a big booster of de Blasio’s initial run for City Hall and bundled $45,000 for his re-election campaign,” https://nypost.com/2018/04/09/top-de-blasio-lobbyist-agrees-to-40k-ethics-settlement/
Top de Blasio lobbyist agrees to $40K ethics settlement
By Carl Campanile
“Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ethics and fundraising have been called into question yet again after two donors agreed to pay fines to settle an investigation into lobbying violations.
In the Bloomberg years, Downtown’s City Hall restaurant was famous for shutting its doors to paying customers on Christmas Eve so it could treat homeless families to a five-star meal. Lately, it’s become famous, or rather, infamous for hosting a September 2015 secret meeting.
Alan Boss was boasting to a dealer that he contributed campaign funds to Mayor Bill de Blasio. Boss also showed the dealer a photo of him and Mayor Bill de Blasio.
As CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported the meeting was curiously not on de Blasio’s schedule and held in the restaurant’s basement. Present were the mayor, lobbyist James Capalino, and nine of Capalino’s clients who had donated $100,000 and were there for a meeting of what was described as de Blasio’s “kitchen cabinet.”
The meeting was curiously not on de Blasio’s schedule and held in the restaurant’s basement. Present were the mayor, lobbyist James Capalino, and nine of Capalino’s clients who had donated $100,000 and were there for a meeting of what was described as de Blasio’s “kitchen cabinet.”
The meeting was front and center on Tuesday because Capilano has agreed to pay a hefty $40,000 fine to settle an investigation by the State Joint Commission on Public Ethics into his actions.
The mayor insisted he has nothing to hide, and that there’s nothing new to add. A spokesman for Capalino stressed that he paid his fine voluntarily to settle the case.
“I should have been more sensitive to how my support might appear,” Capalino said, through the spokesman,” https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/04/10/critics-question-de-blasio-ethics/ NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)
“Will the City Council really let Mayor Bill de Blasio get fat cats to pay off his remaining $300,000 in personal legal bills?
The mayor spent nearly $3 million on lawyers to fend off the long federal and state investigations into his shady fund-raising practices. He dumped most of the bill on the taxpayers after he’d won re-election in 2017, but he’s still stuck owing 300 grand to the Kramer Levin firm.
Last year he started to set up a legal defense fund to cover the debt, but the city Conflicts of Interest Board ruled that the law limits any donations to $50, max. And Speaker Corey Johnson had zero interest in pushing a law to change that,” https://nypost.com/2019/01/08/dont-give-de-blasio-a-sleazy-way-to-pay-his-legal-bills/
Dealers and Collectors Feelings About the Demise of the Flea markets in Chelsea
Dealer: Caught a glimpse Friday evening. That's a cheap inexpensive skin. Some banker probably swung the deal so 20-30 million of this loan could get diverted to help carry the debt load on another fuck up by the banker and this investor. Setting up at the Hell's Kitchen market for years is exactly what's going on. A dozen new towers, barely rented. I'm not talking Hudson yard. That's a wait and see.
Collector: Hideous
Collector: all that humanity, all those conversations, all that laughter, all that human value, torn down, paved over, demeaned, destroyed for that butt-ugly white piece of shit with no soul. oh, sinful prideful hateful plain ole ugly. fits so hideously with the neighborhood, too. fuck. I'm sorry for the enormous loss. deeply sorry.
Dealer: I must say this doesn't even look real! It looks like it has no windows!! I spent a lot of time in the Garage shopping as an antique dealer. I welcome you to join many other New Yorkers who are fighting to prevent this type of exploitation of our neighborhoods without the scale of development, not to mention amazingly ugly development. I invite you to join one of the many preservation groups in New York City, even if you may not live here. We are fighting to stop this hyper development on steroids mainly geared to foreign investment and billionaire pieds-à-terre. It's all about money I'm afraid. The developers like Trump raking it in. Only the grassroots organizations stand between the NYC that was great and rich with history and this. There is Landmark West on the UWS. Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation in the Village. Alliance for a Human-Scale City. They are wonderful groups and there are others. If this subject interests you, I also recommend you visit the CPW Neighbors Association FB page which is the outgrowth of a community organization that I helped to found with a group of other New Yorkers to stop the virtual destruction of a landmarked church.
Larry Baumhor: The owners of the Garage went to court against the development of the outside flea markets and lost. Also, the removal of the Edgar Allan Poe house was fought in court and lost.
Dealer: That is very sad. I've reached out for more info on what group is involved in preservation in Chelsea. These are very difficult battles. But there have been a number of victories. As you already know the deck is very stacked in favor of development.
Dealer: The outdoor flea markets and the Garage represented a full tenth of my adult life.... spent it there, derived sustenance and developed friendships and knowledge of a time that defined a huge part of the art and culture scene of America (and the world) from the ‘70s to the ‘00s. It was a safe meeting place for all types. I was honored to be part of that 'scene' The rest of the world (especially in my genre of antiques and art) seems tame and of a lesser nature since I left NYC. It is emotionally strong to see an edifice to greed and elitist comfort taking the place of one of the icons of underground America, NYC and the cultural scene. It sort of dictates the way that NYC has evolved into no more than a giant safety zone for the wealthy and culturally challenged. Let me think about it.
Dealer: Every bit of “old” New York lost to the wrecking ball is a knife to the heart of what made it great: its culture, character, its energy. It’s very disheartening.
Dealer: Looking west from 26th street in Chelsea. This is the building that was erected in 2019 to replace the Antiques Garage, the venue where we went to find and occasionally sell beautiful, interesting and even useful things. It's just one of the new developments that have made the city a poorer place for many of us while lining the pockets of a few. Greed wins out.
Collector: NYC destroys everything good
Dealer: The world of the tall and skinnies... like so many matchsticks ready to go out in flames...
Collector: Meanwhile only two dealers today at the outdoor market on 25th. There were more yesterday but at least half unoccupied. It is sad.
Dealer: We were sad when it closed.
Anonymous I have to say, I have no particular opinions about that building, other than that it’s just another monstrous, out of scale building, stuffed into the middle of a block filled with mid-level vintage New York. The march of gentrification continues with the soul-sucking sound of real estate.
I know your issues with that building are probably more related to displacement, and I feel the same, but really Larry, you have a great photo document of those heady years when the flea market was a very vibrant cultural center and you should concentrate on getting that book out into the world.
Collector: I still miss the old flea market, it was something I always looked forward to—getting coffee at the deli and wandering among the booths, and, of course, really settling into a couple and looking at every single photo. Then, the unexpected finds—a chair, a necklace, a strange doll, aquarium figures. It combined the surprising with the intimate in ways that moved me.
Dealer: We reject the definition of progress as a " move forward or onward in space or time" when cultural history is erased and viable commerce is banished. The lofty edifice replaces an institution close to the ground and close to our hearts.
Collector: In the mid 1980’s I would get up at 2 am to go to the markets in the flower district in mid-Manhattan. This included the $1 lot, several other open-air flea market lots and the Garage. One would think to be a dangerous expedition in the middle of the night in New York City. Many of us were walking around with 100’s, if not 1000’s of dollars in our pockets with the intent to buy that elusive one-of-a-kind piece of art or rare collectible. There were times that this actually happened. More often than one would expect. We never walked in fear or worried about our safety. What was more important, however, were the relationships that were built up over the years with the dealers and other collectors. I would start out by going to the deli to get coffee and doughnuts for those dealers that had (or might have) brought something special for me to buy. They were there no matter what time of year or whatever the weather. I would help them set up on occasion and maybe see something I knew nothing about. They would almost always be kind and tell me what the item was and also its history. Such knowledge was unattainable anywhere else. My Saturdays and Sundays were consumed with this search for many years. Sadly, as time went by, I spent less and less time at the market. eBay was partly responsible. On the rare occasion that I went back, I would hear rumors of the Garage’s demise. The other lots seemed to be eaten up one by one until there was only the lot next to the church (now burnt out). The building that is where the Garage once stood is a monument to the desocialization of the people in New York City. Like the corner store or the small post office or even the local diner, there no longer exists the place where we meet each other to exchange thoughts, culture, art, and commerce. I am truly appreciative that the author of this book took the time and energy to document what was lost. Treasures of the past never to be replicated.
“An extreme concentration of wealth in a city where even the air is for sale has produced a new breed of needle-like tower.”
“Any visitor to New York over the past few years will have witnessed this curious new breed of pencil-thin tower. Poking up above the Manhattan skyline like etiolated beanpoles, they seem to defy the laws of both gravity and commercial sense. They stand like naked elevator shafts awaiting their floors, raw extrusions of capital piled up until it hits the clouds.”
“These towers are not only the product of advances in construction technology – and a global surfeit of super-rich buyers – but a zoning policy that allows a developer to acquire unused airspace nearby, add it to their own lot and erect a vast structure without any kind of public review process taking place. The face of New York is changing at a rate not seen for decades, and the deals that are driving it are all happening behind closed doors.”
“The results range from the sublime to the ridiculous, or even both at once. There is 432 Park Avenue, a surreal square tube of white concrete that appears to shoot twice as high as anything around it, it’s endless Cartesian grid of windows framing worlds of solid marble bathtubs and climate-controlled wine cellars within. It is the most elegant of the new towers, recalling the minimalist sculptures of Sol LeWitt, although its architect, Raphael Viñoly, says it was inspired by a trash can. He can clearly turn garbage into gold, given the penthouse sold for $95m (£72m).”
“It is the tallest residential building in the world, but it won’t be for long. The sturdy trunk of Central Park Towers rising nearby – a great glass hulk that will soon steal the crown for the most vertiginous residences on the planet. Designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, architects of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tower will form a dizzying stack of superlatives, with the biggest pools, highest health club and farthest-reaching views in town. You might even be able to peer into your neighboring oligarch’s flat, given how close the next-door tower is squeezed.”
“Like leggy plants given too much fertilizer, these buildings are a symptom of a city irrigated with too much money. The world’s population of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, a super-elite with assets of at least $30m, has now mushroomed beyond 250,000 people, all in need of somewhere to store their wealth. More than a third of them are based in North America, while those from riskier economic climes favor New York real estate as one of the safest places to park their cash.”
“Since the 2008 global financial crisis, luxury housing has become a new world currency, providing investors with both a tangible asset and a certain cachet that can’t be found in stocks and hedge funds. The continued volatility of financial markets have spurred buyers to seek safe havens in super-prime real estate, from London to New York and Hong Kong, begetting stratospheric prices and minting a whole new category that defies the usual rules of the marketplace: the “trophy property”.
“Little changed until 1961, when the zoning resolution was overhauled. The concept of floor area ratio (FAR) was introduced as a tool to control bulk and density, setting a maximum ratio of the building’s total floor area to the size of the lot. An FAR of 10, for example, means you can build 10 times the floor area of the lot, in whatever configuration: a 10-story building that fills the lot, or a 20 story building on half the lot, etc.”
“The revamped laws also introduced the curious notion of transferable development rights (TDRs), also known as “air rights” – a mechanism that allows landowners to buy the unused air space of their neighbors and add it on to their own lot. It is the ultimate free-market planning clause: if your neighbor is not exploiting their potential to go skywards, you can buy it off them and make your building even taller. It seems fitting that in the cut-throat capital of capitalism, even the air is for sale.”
“Crucially, the law specifies that the properties must share at least 10ft of boundary, but there is no limit on how many connected lots can be assembled, leading to a situation where a developer can snake their way around a block, piecing together a complex jigsaw puzzle of adjoining lots, buying up neighbor after neighbor’s spare air in secret. It has become one of the most lucrative currencies: in some cases, developers have paid the same price per square foot for air rights as they did to buy the land itself.”
“Another law, introduced in 1968, allows designated landmark buildings to sell their air rights across the street or down the block, spawning odd little-and-large pairings around the city. It was intended as a means of compensating historic buildings for the potential financial losses stemming from their landmark status (which severely restricts alterations), and allowing the city to skirt any financial responsibility itself. The result is a very New York scenario: great megaliths loom above tiny historic fragments, perversely protecting them in perpetuity in the process.”
“In the 1970s, Donald Trump paid $5m for the air rights above the landmarked Tiffany building on Fifth Avenue, which, along with various other deals, allowed him to inflate what would have been a 20-story building into the 58-story Trump Tower. Twenty years later, he stockpiled air rights from at least seven low-rise properties in Midtown Manhattan and piled them up to create the 70-story black glass box of Trump World Tower.”
“This love of Manhattan’s no-holds-barred market logic is shared by Carol Willis, director of the city’s Skyscraper Museum, which staged an exhibition on the super-slender towers when they first began to appear in 2013. When asked in an interview if there should be any change to planning policy in response to the rash of super-talls, her response was immediate:” ‘No, absolutely not.’
“She says campaigners fail to understand that these towers “will not add one single square foot of built density to the city”, given that allowable density is finite. “It’s a cap-and-trade system,” she says, so once air rights are transferred from a low-rise lot, it will stay low forever. The rules merely allow potential floor area to be shifted, not created.”
“As for the accusation that the buildings will remain empty, sold to a class of people who won’t live in them anyway, she makes an interesting comparison with London, where swaths of Kensington and Chelsea stand eerily quiet for much of the year, having been flogged off to overseas investors.”
“Concentrating more people, even if they’re billionaires, in towers to keep neighborhoods tight and active is a much smarter way to add space to the city,” she says, “rather than to displace people on the ground plane and move them further out … The problem of people having more money should be addressed by taxes and public policy, not by restricting purchases on multi-million dollar apartments,” By Oliver Wainwright 2-5-2019, www.theguardian.com.
Collector: oligarch money laundering properties. Outrageous and illegal.
Collector: I agree. It's a corruption of the original intent of the law.
On 3-30-2019 I visited the Chelsea Flea Market and I shot photos of the hotel that is replacing the Garage. Five years ago, in June of 2014, the Garage closed and the hotel is still not finished. I hadn’t visited the Chelsea Market in quite some time. When I called Alan on two occasions to ask if I can visit, his response was, “I’ll check with Helene and get back to you.” Of course, I never heard from him.
I was happy to see old friends and be greeted with hugs. The flea market was busy; the first bright sunny spring day. Perhaps I saw fifteen dealers that sold at the Garage. There was a group of dealers that sold high-quality antiques and collectibles, but the market deteriorated into schlock. The interesting thing was that the Bosses threw out all the dealers selling junk and new items when the Garage closed to make room for the antique dealers. But they inflicted pain to the market, the dealers and the buyers. The junk was back in a big way.
Here’s what I learned:
“Rarely do we see Alan” said, one dealer. “Helene runs the market.”
“Helene charges $20.00 and $30.00 to park in the street in front of the market. She also charges the employees who help the dealers unload their cars $5.00,” said another dealer.
These employees no longer get paid as they did at the Garage. They work on tips only. Many of these guys are poor. It’s disgusting, I replied.
Here are some reviews of the Chelsea Flea Market from various links on the Internet:
“This used to be a good and very active market before Helene took over. It was thriving and filled with vendors and buyers. At present many of the vendors have dropped out mainly because of Helene's abusive behavior and berating of vendors, buyers, and staff. Often complaints are so bad that the police are called to intervene. Never a dull moment! Unfortunately, all the chaos provides hours of entertainment! Not bad for a $1 entry or early bird special $5 fee before nine! And don't forget prices apply to children too!”
Julie H. Manhattan, New York, NY on https://www.yelp.com/biz/chelsea-flea-market-new-york-2
Julie H. Manhattan, New York, NY on https://www.yelp.com/biz/chelsea-flea-market-new-york-2
“I've been here a few times and never really found anything. There are a few vendors who have interesting things, but most of it is just junk – a guy selling used tools, used kids’ books and porn and cell phone cases is a regular. There are a set of vendors who sell imports from Africa, including trade beads and a guy with imports from Asia and one vendor with middling furniture. It's worth poking through if you're in the neighborhood, but it's not worth seeking out on its own. It definitely is more like a yard sale than a flea market or thrift store.” Mary H. Manhattan, NY https://www.yelp.com/biz/chelsea-flea-market-new-york-2
“A waste of time. Back in the day, this used to be a good flea market. Now, much of the merch is new or just junk. I saw very few true antiques. My favorite two displays were the guy selling new African masks next to a dealer selling old Penthouse mags and gay porn DVDs. Not exactly what I'd hoped to find.” Dayton, Ohio, Marblehead750 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d7998333-Reviews-Chelsea_Flea_Market-New_York_City_New_York.html#REVIEWS
“Give it a miss!
As a visitor to NYC, I would skip this market. It's a $1 entry fee and full of junk really. There are some stalls with great LPs for sale and the rest are really knick-knacks, jeweler, and junk. We went about 12 noon on Sunday, it was pretty quiet and easy to get about. Honestly, I would not bother and spend your time doing something better in this awesome city.” dja_mr
Adelaide, Australia https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d7998333-Reviews-Chelsea_Flea_Market-New_York_City_New_York.html#REVIEWS
“Used to go to the Garage where it was awesome. But this version sucks. Now you have to pay admission to walk in and give them business. What business could be had if you're peddling shit disguised as gold? You're going to run into your usual African masks shop next to the other African masks shop. People selling Mighty Ducks 3 VHS tapes and of course a whole box of Vidal Sassoon hair combs. I bet they were really thinking about the huge profit margins when they bought that wholesale to sell at a flea market sitting on the ground exposed to the elements. Not talking crap about these entrepreneurs but you charge admission like their presence is a blessing while we see from the outside that people sell nothing but old belts and shoelaces. How about making it free so someone will actually buy your Vidal Sassoon hair combs with the admission money you taxed from patrons?” Thomas C. Brooklyn, NY https://www.yelp.com/biz/chelsea-flea-market-new-york-2
“a very unpleasant experience right at the entrance as the woman collecting the entry fee was rude, and almost bordering on racism in her comments. It left a very bitter taste and least expected in a communal, creative space. Need to be more respectful of difference and diversity,”
Geeta Kuttiparambil https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=AQS5XMLHAfHF_Qbd66-QBQ&q=chelsea+flea+market&oq=&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.35i39l6.0.0..4853...1.0..0.88.88.1......0......gws-wiz.....6.Jr1tt1_c4oI#lrd=0x89c259a5b497ab2f:0x700df466f90e485f,1,,,
Geeta Kuttiparambil https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=AQS5XMLHAfHF_Qbd66-QBQ&q=chelsea+flea+market&oq=&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.35i39l6.0.0..4853...1.0..0.88.88.1......0......gws-wiz.....6.Jr1tt1_c4oI#lrd=0x89c259a5b497ab2f:0x700df466f90e485f,1,,,
“I visited Chelsea Flea Market this Saturday around noon. I was shocked by the way the woman collecting the entry fee spoke to the man doing the red stamps. Very loudly and publicly telling him he was "useless" and "worthless." Lots of people could hear her. It was super inappropriate and cruel. The markets, too, were nothing special. Bad taste in my mouth,” Ambrose Kogut
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=AQS5XMLHAfHF_Qbd66-QBQ&q=chelsea+flea+market&oq=&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.35i39l6.0.0..4853...1.0..0.88.88.1......0......gws-wiz.....6.Jr1tt1_c4oI#lrd=0x89c259a5b497ab2f:0x700df466f90e485f,1,,,
“The Chelsea market is still the best flea market in town, but it is much diminished and going in the wrong direction fast. The market is clumsily run; the management has gradually alienated both dealers and customers. The most recent mistake is a $5.00 admission fee for early buyers (until 9:00). Especially given what the market usually looks like these days, this is an insult and will drive away many customers serious enough to show up early, which will, in turn, hurt the remaining serious dealers and send them elsewhere. The ultimate effect of this disastrous business decision will only be to hasten the demise of the market, which we can already feel coming,” Leo.
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=AQS5XMLHAfHF_Qbd66-QBQ&q=chelsea+flea+market&oq=&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.35i39l6.0.0..4853...1.0..0.88.88.1......0......gws-wiz.....6.Jr1tt1_c4oI#lrd=0x89c259a5b497ab2f:0x700df466f90e485f,1,,,
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| Yours truly at the hotel where the Garage was located on the 24th Street side, 4-21-2018 |
“You heard that Helene was injured by a crazy person at the market and needed surgery on her writing arm? Also, that she got in trouble for charging dealers to park out front when the city ticketed them? I was informed that at the end of November or December on a rainy day at the Chelsea Flea Market with only about 4 dealers set up, Helene charged customers $5.00 instead of $1.00 to enter the market in the rain.
“I saw her today and last Saturday and her hand and foot are bandaged. We asked her what happened and she claims she caught someone stealing and they bashed her hand. Don’t think anyone believes this though. As for tickets, didn’t hear anything, only know dealers pay $30 for street parking and people parking on the lot pay more,” anonymous.
On 11-30-2019 I visited the Chelsea Flea Market. I didn't know I was going to NY until the last minute and didn't contact anyone. It was nice to see a few of my friends from the Garage at the Flea, but hardly anyone is left. No one knows what's going to happen at the end of this month when the lease is up. It was about half-filled with dealers. My dealer friend had a spot in the front at the far end corner. The legs from the tent extended about 1 foot away from the fence. It is too small for people to walk. Some of his merchandise was coming out from under the tent not quite touching the fence. Helene made him move it under the tent or she was charging him $50.00 extra for the spot. The spot cost $225.00, $20.00 for 2 tables, $20.00 for the tent, and $30.00 to park on the street in front of the market
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| Alan and Helene Boss at the 20-year anniversary Garage party on 5-17-2014 |
“I was told in no uncertain terms we don’t want a flea market there,” said Alan Boss, who ran the weekend market from a West 25th Street parking lot in Chelsea.
Boss said he even offered landlord Larry Lipman more money but was refused.
Lipman, president of the Manhattan Parking Group, did not return requests for comment. The property is owned by an LLC of which billionaire real estate developer Lawrence Friedland is principal. He could not be reached for comment,” NY Post by Jon Levine and Melissa Klein, December 28, 2019.
A source informed me that Larry Lipman would not return phone calls from Alan Boss months before the lease ended on December 31, 2019. Mr. Boss’s lawyer called Larry Lipman. Mr. Lipman said he’s going to keep the flea market as a parking lot on the weekends. Obviously, this was not true because Larry Lipman called the owner of the Brooklyn Flea Market about five months before the lease expired.
My source stated that Larry Lipman received an overwhelming amount of complaints against the Bosses. I don’t know how many of the following complaints Larry Lipman was aware of. But my source said the neighbors had problems parking and that their tires were slashed. Helene Boss was charging the dealers money to park in the street. The police were called about numerous confrontations, including assaults. Helene Boss on multiple occasions called an employee a stupid nigger in front of buyers, dealers, and employees, thus causing some buyers not to return to the market. Mrs. Boss also referred to some of the gay dealers as faggots, but not to their faces.
Let me make this perfectly clear and stop the rumors. Larry Lipman, president of the Manhattan Parking Group, did not want the Bosses owning and operating the flea market because of a plethora of complaints against the Bosses. Mr. Lipman's decision had nothing to do with money or not wanting to have a flea market on the weekends. The Bosses self-destructed from their abuse, outrageous and illegal behavior. Period! End of story!
.JPG)
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