Front Royal flea market will now be open Friday through Sunday

Andrick’s Flea Market on Commerce Ave. in Front Royal will now be open Fridays through Sundays, and on holidays. Photos/Roger Bianchini

On Monday, September 25, the Front Royal Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance change allowing Fridays to be added to the weekend days of operation of flea markets.  The code change also alters the fee structure from either $10 a year or $1 a day for individual vendors, to $500 per year to be paid by the flea market proprietor.

An earlier attempt to authorize the change failed on August 14 due to lingering questions about a 6-year lapse during which the Town did not collect any fees from Andrick’s Flea Market.  A majority consensus was reached that the failure fell on town staff and council itself.

However, council did double the annual fee from the initially-proposed $250 following the earlier failure to achieve a vote.  The Andrick family brought the proposal for an additional day of operation forward on July 3^rd.  Council’s decision to raise the initially proposed fee forced re-advertisement for a second public hearing.  That decision came following the August 14 failure to gain a second to John Connolly’s initial motion to approve the expanded operations and new fee schedule.

Only two people spoke at the September 25 public hearing.  Gerald Stone called the flea market a place of fellowship and dignity – “what’s right about Front Royal” in urging approval of the expanded operations.

Ann Orndorff, with her husband proprietor of the Springtime Garden Center in town, repeated her earlier comments to council that while she had nothing in principal against flea markets, she would like to be assured they will be held to the code standards in place, whatever they may be.

John Connolly, who made the motion to approve the changes, called the flea market “a strategic asset” to the town in bringing vendors and customers, not only from the town and county, but surrounding communities as well.  Vendors traveling to set up here, as well as customers, also spend money on amenities during their visits creating additional revenue for the town, Connolly asserted.

After two-and-a-half months of discussion, his colleagues all agreed.

Front Royal flea markets are also allowed to open on holidays.