Weekend-Only Business Enters Fifth Year in Palatine

Back in 1991, brother David and Donald Wolff began a company that would grow and expand and involve other family members as it did so.

Wolff’s Flea Market has been in existence for 24 years and in Palatine for five years.

“It’s just, it fills an economic niche in the area,” Sharon Wolff, David Wolff’s wife said. “People are going to the flea market for bargains and unique items.

“A lot of people don’t believe in buying things brand new.”

Sharon Wolff runs the social media and some of the marketing for the market. In Palatine, the flea market is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The Palatine location is indoors and year-round. The original Wolff’s Flea Market location is outdoors in Rosemont and will open for the season again on Sundays only.

The flea market has amassed a large following on social media.

“We have been able to connect with people that way. Facebook we are near 10,000 followers,” she said. “We have been able to connect with people to communicate.

“People have seen pictures on our facebook and come out to our market to buy it.”

Sharon Wolff said the flea market also provides a business opportunity in the community.

“We have about 300 individual sellers,” she said. “We have some that are permanent.

“We have people that will come to just one.”

The rent for a space for the day is $22.

Wolff’s Flea Market also hosts special themed events. The next one, coming up on March 22 is the record vinyl show.

“Vinyl is very big right now,” Sharon Wolff said. “That’s a young crowd now.”