SAINT-OUEN FLEA MARKET : THE MUST TO GO FOR CELEBRITIES & INFLUENTIAL CUSTOMERS

USPA NEWS - Saint-Ouen Flea Market is a real institution since 2001. This is the 4th Tourist landmark in FRANCE. Receiving several million visitors each year including celebrities such as Sharon Stones, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Megan Fox... It can be also for premieres and photo shootings. HOLLYWOOD !

SAINT-OUEN Flea Market is located in the Seine-Saint-Denis Department, northern suburbs of PARIS. On 1 January 1860, the City of PARIS was enlarged by annexing neighbouring communes. A part of the Commune of SAINT-OUEN was annexed. So, SAINT-OUEN is home to PARIS' Flea market, the highest concentration of antique dealers and second-hand furniture dealers in the World. It is held every saturday, sunday and monday because of this high frequency, it has tended to consist only of professionals who rent their spot for a minimum term of three years.

Since 2001, SAINT-OUEN Flea Market is recognized as a "Zone for the Protection of Architectural Urban and Landscape Heritage" (ZPPAUP). It covers 7 hectares and host 14 markets : Antica, Biron, Cambo, Dauphine, Django Reinhardt, Jules Vallès, Le Passage, Malassis, Malik, De l'Entrepôt, Paul Bert Serpette, Des Rues, L'Usine and l'Ecuyer & Vernaison. (www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com)

After the 1870 war with Prussia, the rag-and-bone merchants, driven out of PARIS, set up their earliest dealers' settlement in SAINT-OUEN. In 1885, we saw the official birth of the Flea Market. After the World War I, les "Puces" was so busy that businessmen began to buy plots around the Rue des Rosiers.

From then, the place became fashionable and crowds sought after the market ambiance and the Flea Market became renowned for its cafés, restaurants and activities. The term "Flea Market" took off and travelled around PARIS and then the whole world. It was associated originally with the clothing sold by the dealers "fleas included"; it was the press and postcards which established this expression in 1900, with several reports on the "Flea Market" of Saint-Ouen.

Important : The Income Tax Services would like to change the Flea Market centennial status into the one of a Mall. The motivations are to change the Tax calculation on the Rental Value implying an increase of 113%. The MAP association (Marché Aux Puces) with all the presidence of traders associations and owners of the markets decided to go against this initiative. So they launched a petition online for support.

www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com