Carmen Macri
Words by Carmen Macri
For those of us who’ve witnessed Jacksonville’s evolution, it’s no secret how disheartening the transformation of Jacksonville Beach Pier has been. Our grandparents never tire of reminiscing about the good old days when it was a bustling hub of shops, rides, and carnival games. However, those bygone times have faded into history, leaving us with a desolate wooden boardwalk.
But these are all tales of old. With the help of Curt DeWitt (the unofficial Jax Beach Mayor) and Kirsten Mayo (more on her in a minute), the pier has become quite the hospitable hotspot for our generation once again.
You might not have heard about it yet — I was in the same boat until recently — but there are some exciting new additions down at the pier. The standout stars are Fleabag Trading Co. and Sandflea Market. Picture Sandflea Market as a pop-up village that magically appears on the pier every Saturday and Sunday. Local vendors from all around Jacksonville converge here to showcase and sell their amazing creations. And here’s the real twist in the tale: as soon as that sun dips below the horizon, the silent disco extravaganza takes center stage. In addition to the Sandflea Market providing a thriving hub for small businesses, Hush Hush Jax rolls out a special booth from 7-10 p.m., ensuring shoppers and their friends can enjoy a night of silent disco magic.
The genius pulling the strings is none other than Mayo, a homegrown entrepreneur who embarked on her journey right here in Jacksonville and is dedicated to continuing the love affair with small businesses.
“For a few years I worked for a local breast cancer foundation called Two Titmice Vodka. During my time there, I would plan and host fundraising events around town, and I think that’s where I got my first taste of how fun and fulfilling it can be to have these types of community events,” Mayo shared. “I then worked as a manager at Urban Outfitters [UO] in the St. Johns Town Center and was in charge of planning the UO Local Markets. I fell in love with it and figured I could do this on a larger scale with more creative freedom than I could under the corporate regulations set in place by UO.”
But before Mayo decided to bring a new life to the pier, she first started her venture with her own fully sustainable swimwear line, Arcane Swim. Just like many small local businesses, you begin your journey by participating in pop-up events and flea markets, and Mayo, well, she’s been there, done that. She built her business from the ground up through these means, so when the opportunity arose to support other small local businesses, Mayo seized it.
“Fleabag has an entirely different business plan and structure than I have with Arcane so it’s definitely been a challenge, but I like pushing myself to learn new things. I know as I develop Fleabag more I will discover new things I can apply to Arcane as well,” Mayo expressed. “Right now Fleabag Trading Company and The Sandflea are getting up and running, and we are working out the kinks.”
The Sandflea Market is more than just a market, of course. Mayo knows the heart and soul of Jacksonville lies with the makers and creators in the lively community. As I’ve reiterated repeatedly and will continue to emphasize, Jacksonville has a deep appreciation for small businesses. Every weekend, in every corner and neighborhood of Jacksonville, you’ll find various markets, be it arts markets or farmers markets. We are fortunate to reside in a city that shares a passion for creativity.
“The ultimate dream is to create a space for The Fleabag Trading Co. to live, where we can operate out of and help small businesses thrive,” Mayo shared. “I would love for a brand to blow up, become insanely successful, and when they get interviewed about their start-up story, they can proudly say, ‘My brand got its start at The Fleabag.’”
Mayo is aiming high with Fleabag Trading Co. After establishing a solid foundation and securing a storefront, Mayo envisions expanding Fleabag’s presence nationwide. This expansion would include hosting pop-up events for local brands and eventually organizing community gatherings. The ultimate objective, whether it’s here at our coastal beaches or across the country, is to create a space where people can come together and connect with one another.
“Right now, just about every vendor we have had set up at the market was either a friend I’ve made through having Arcane at pop-up markets,” Mayo explained. “Or a business that reached out to us through word of mouth. And word travels fast in our little big city.”
There are currently three vendor spaces at the market, but Mayo is aiming for six. And eventually, the whole damn pier.
To learn more about Sandflea Market, contact kirsten@jaxfleabag.com.
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