Anyone who’s ever seen Kevin Smith’s 1995 cult-classic “Mallrats” knows what one can expect from a dirt-mall: bootlegged copies of the latest “Godzilla” and a talented psychic with a powerful third… eye.
While the Greenwood Flea Market (GFM) boasts no supernumerary possessing psychics, rest assured the GFM is in no way lacking personality, charm, and, at times, surrealism. As a long-time resident of Shreveport, and growing up in a family that has, dare I say, a passion for all things thrift, I’ve been going to the Greenwood Flea Market since I was eleven. With an outdoor and indoor market, the Greenwood Flea Market (GFM) is a great place to kill a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.
If it’s a nice day you can walk around outside and sift through the thousands of little trinkets and salvaged building materials that fill to the brim the trailers lining your path. Cross the little walking bridge and you will find an inviting gathering of sheds and trailers, reminiscent of what I imagine a traveling gypsy village looks like. In this area I found Disney Happy Meal figurines from the 1990’s, a vintage 1950’s television, and what may or may not have been an authentic Nazi soldier’s footlocker. This is the kind of thing that makes the difference between the GFM and your average Goodwill. Goodwill sells textiles. GFM sells history.[1]
Stepping inside to the air-conditioned tunnels of GFM will present you with twice as many store fronts, each with its own unique characteristic. Sometimes there is a band that plays in a booth by the food court, selling their CD’s in the hall. One vendor sells ribbons and hair accessories, while another sells women’s fashion hats, body oils, and buck knives. Vinyl albums and books nearly cover the walls, sharing space with graphic tees, blankets, and wall decorations. There are also small tables set out in front of many of the shops with special bargains and sale items. Stumbling across one that was selling a stack of a few hundred comics at a dollar a piece, I discovered Jeff’s comic booth.
This place is 
run by Jeff. Jeff is a comic book guy. Over the years Jeff has collected an incredible number of comic books, some fairly valuable, like my new Issue 1 Beavis and Butthead: First Editions Are Cool. The tables lining the room were completely filled with thousands of comics, beneath which were filled with even more comics. Most of the ones I saw were older Marvels, but I barely covered any ground. For any collector, the thrill is in the hunt, and that’s why Jeff’s comic booth is an exciting find. Jeff and his comics can be found at the GFM Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., along with the rest of the folks selling their wares.
A strange and wonderful place, the Greenwood Flea Market is a great place to find a weird experience that kills an hour or two.
To get to GFM: Take 20 West towards Dallas. Exit Right US-80 E/ Greenwood Rd. Then take a right on Jefferson Paige Rd.
[1] If you are a CEO at the Greenwood Flea Market, please contact me for copyrights.