The Aberfoyle Antique Market was set to celebrate its 60th year in operation before the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to keep the gates closed just weeks before it was set to open in April.
The popular open air flea market just south of Guelph has yet to greet a single visitor this year and some of the booths are still locked up with merchandise from last season.
“I have been inquiring since before the lockdown, since about the 12th of March, checking in on a weekly basis with public health and seeing what measures I can do,” said owner Doug Lane by phone on Thursday. “It’s pretty frustrating for everybody to try and figure out.”
Lane said he has heard conflicting reports as to whether or not an open air flea market could be open as Phase 1 of the province’s plan to reopen the economy, but even if he was able to open there are still measures to be put in place to ensure it is safe for everyone.
“Sometimes businesses only have a few days to prepare and I just wanted to make sure, primarily in the safety realm, that this place is made as safe as can possibly be without breaking the bank because who knows? Maybe we won’t be able to open at all and I just added funds when I have nothing coming in,” said Lane.
“It’s a slippery slope, but I have to do it.”
Plans so far include hand washing stations and hand sanitizer throughout the space, replacing hand towels in the washrooms with hands free dryers and installing hands free soap dispensers.
He plans on punching a hole in the wall of the men’s bathroom to create an exit so people don’t have to use one door as an entrance and exit.
“Even if we were able to have been open as of last Tuesday, we are not going to open until I have everything in place,” said Lane.
The market operates for 27 Sundays from spring until fall. Lane notes that it has already missed out on four market days.
“I don’t want to miss any more than I have to but we have to make it safe here and I have been working since March to get it to that end,” he said.
So far he has not been charging rents to the vendors, but Lane is still on the hook for fixed costs.
“I’m telling them I am not going to charge for not being open, but they also have their stuff stored here and are utilizing space that I pay taxes and insurance on,” said Lane. “I’m not going to gouge them, I think I have been a pretty good landlord and I’ll try to work with them because with no vendors there would be no market.”
Lane said he has been able to apply for some financial relief from the government but not enough to come close to covering his costs.
“It was a little daunting at first because everything is so uncertain — and that’s not just for me, that’s for everyone — trying to figure out if how we go from X amount of revenue to zero,” he said.
Because there are gates and the market covers about 20 acres, Lane doesn’t expect physical distancing will be difficult to enforce outside, but it becomes more of a challenge for the booths patrons can walk into.
Lane said one rule he may put in place will be a requirement for everyone to wear a mask.
Another challenge, said Lane, is that most transactions at the market are done with cash, which many businesses are avoiding because of possible transmission risks.
The market is not hard-wired with internet and wi-fi is not practical to cover the entire market so vendors can use contactless debit terminals.
“Do I hardwire everywhere so people can use these machines? Do I spend all this extra money for the 27 days a year?” said Lane.
“This was to be our 60th jubilee year. Kind of an important season, but we are going to do everything we can to be prepared and have everyone behave properly — whether it’s vendors, staff or patrons — to be as safe as possible,” said Lane.
