ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — St. Augustine is getting ready to say farewell to the flea market after 35 years in the community. You’ve probably seen the St. Augustine Flea Market driving on I-95 at the S.R. 207 corridor.
Chuck Burgess has been a vendor at the flea market there for 16 years.
“We had a really good run,” Burgess said. “We are very sad to leave there.”
Burgess said this year was already difficult when the flea market was closed for weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he said he’s scrambling to find a new place to keep his business going. “Probably 95-percent of my business is the flea market,” Burgess said. The last day of the flea market is Sept. 27.
Action News Jax learned what could go in place of the flea market’s 23-acres. Right now, Baptist Health has the property under contract. Tuesday, the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners approved a request to rezone the land to allow for 525,000 square feet of office and commercial use, including hospital uses.
The proposed development is called “The Pavilion at S.R. 207.” According to documents submitted to the county, it includes a hospital, emergency department, a gym, among other things. The application said the project will create “high wage and skilled medical and professional office jobs for St. Johns County residents.” During a presentation to the county, Lindsay Haga, with England-Thims & Miller, the development would also help serve a growing community in the southern part of the county.
Cox Media Group
