ONE TRICK PONY VINTAGE FLEA CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Milwaukee’s original flea market and vintage show, OTP’s evolution mirrors local and the national consumer trends focused on environmental sustainability, conscious consuming, and creative entrepreneurship.
MILWAUKEE, Thursday, March 28 – One Trick Pony (OTP) Vintage Flea launches its 10th anniversary season with the first of four market dates on April 6th and 7th, 2024. Celebrating the tenth year with the first ever two-day event, the market includes 20+ unique vendors each day, a bonus VIP ticket, and hourly champagne toasts. Over the last decade, OTP has become lauded for drawing the city’s top vendors and expertly curating a unique selection of men’s and women’s clothing, home goods and children’s novelties.
Created in 2014 under the vision of Ashley Smith, owner of Alive and Fine (2652 S Kinnickinnic Ave), and Maureen Post, co-owner at Culture x Design, OTP has popped-up in the city’s most artistic neighborhoods at venues including Anodyne Coffee in Walker’s Point, the Harley Davidson Museum, and the Mitchell Park Domes.
In 2021, to foster post-pandemic community building, the vintage market secured two home bases, The Cooperage (822 S Water St), where they will host the initial 10th Anniversary event, and Bad Moon Saloon (4035 S Clement Ave). Offering markets four times a year, OTP now alternates between vintage-only curated indoor markets and expansive outdoor markets offering a combination of vintage and handmade goods.
A veteran of thrift store adventures and expertise, Smith, opened her own Bay View brick-and-mortar in 2016 to offer high style vintage clothing and accessories ranging from the 1940s to the 1990s. In addition to shop offerings, Smith’s creative genius and styling experience spills over into ongoing holiday events, gallery night exhibitions, storefront window displays, and family friendly art nights.
As Smith explains, “Vintage has always been such a huge part of my personal story and seeing the way the market has grown and changed over the last ten years has truly been an amazing thing. It’s not just about selling old clothes, it’s about building community and incubating small businesses. Allowing people to buy directly from sellers and telling stories about each special item is the beauty of One Trick Pony and I am so honored to have met so many amazing collectors and customers over the last ten years.”
Alive and Fine Vintage has found itself in good company with a solid handful of current and former OTP vendors opening their own brick-and-mortar shops since the market first began. Stores include Plume (3001 S Kinnickinnic Ave # A), Orange and Blue Co. (1809 N Hubbard St), To Hell & Back Vintage (643 S 2nd St Studio 1B), ALL GOODS (1411 S 72nd St), Say Werd (3474 N Oakland Ave), Ladies of the Loon & Tin Carnival (2625 S Greeley St Suite 335) Amara Studios (2625 S Greeley St unit 100) and Loop Vintage (1613 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL).
Reflecting on the last ten years, OTP serves as a mirror to both local and the national trends prioritizing environmental sustainability, conscious consuming, and creative entrepreneurship.
“Our first market coming out of the pandemic was easily the wildest to witness,” Post explains. “Needing to work from home and job loss bred a whole new generation of interest – there were obvious practical economic reasons, but I think virtuous desires for connection and ethical consumption equally drove a lot of the growth. In the three years since we’ve been back, vintage has only become more and more central to Milwaukee’s gig economy.”
A ticket to all One Trick Pony Vintage flea events can be bought in advance or at the door. Details can be found at onetrickponymke.com
Events Line-up:
• One Trick Pony Vintage Flea takes place April 6th/7th and December 15th, 202.
• One Trick Pony Vintage and Handmade Market takes place June 30th and Sept. 22nd, 2024.
About One Trick Pony
From obscure book titles to 1920’s flapper dresses to 90’s hype tees, One Trick Pony represents vintage for all. Our diverse markets offer more than just incredible vintage shopping. OTP provides a platform for vintage shoppers to connect to sellers and for small business owners to find their audience. It’s truly sustainability in style.
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