Marketplace vendors close down for the fair

Under the shadow of ascending thrill rides and attractions in preparation for the upcoming Orange County Fair, business continued as usual for vendors at the OC Marketplace in Costa Mesa. After next weekend the marketplace will close down for more than a month to make room for the fair.

A large number of vendors, like Tom Askew, who sells automobile interior covers at the swap meet, close up for the month and take a long-needed vacation. Askew has been a retailer for nearly three decades and anticipates the time off every year.

“The vendors deserve a break,” said Askew, who is also the President of the Orange County Marketplace Merchants Association for the last 10 years.

Setting up and tearing down Saturday and then repeating that Sundays gets tiring, Askew said.

“My feet can tell you that,” he added.

And though the break is both warranted and welcomed it is not paid for, Askew said.

“We’re independent operators ... we still have to pay the bills.”

However, Askew insisted that “without the fair the marketplace would not be here,” and that it’s a willing price they all pay.

Still most merchants eagerly await the swap meet’s reopening on Aug. 11.

“There’s no place else as a vendor where you will have as consistent traffic,” said David Batistelli owner of Papa Dan’s Jerky which has been around every weekend since 1998. The shop offers 21 varieties of beef jerky, all produced by Papa Dan’s and has recently began selling an assortment of hot sauces.

For retailers like Askew and Batistelli — having been around for years — a hefty chunk of business flows from repeat customers and referrals visiting the swap meet on a regular basis.

“It’s difficult for a lot of regulars to get a hold of [our product] over the break,” Batistelli said. That is why he first grew interested in the prospect of selling at the fair. He is now one of a growing number of marketplace retailers who have joined a sellers program initiated by fair organizers.

Through the program vendors are slotted a space for one week of the fair’s run.

Some, like Lisa Bevins, a gourmet coffee bean vendor at the swap meet for the past 27 years, began selling at the fair long before the program began. She and others like her now have permanent residence for the entire stay of the fair each year.

For that month she takes advantage of the festive atmosphere, adding a number of edible items not available the rest of the year.

The fair kicks off July 13 from noon to midnight, admission for the first hour that day is free. For information go to www.ocmarketplace.com.

Click see video of the OC Marketplace.