Good-sized crowds greeted the inaugural day of the 918 Flea Market inside the historic Rose Bowl in Tulsa.
KOKI-TV in Tulsa reported dozens of people were waiting for the doors to open Sunday at the former Route 66 bowling facility.
Owner Blake Lund said the new market is a dream project that’s been working on for months.
“It’s going to evolve. Hopefully into really what Tulsa is looking for,” Lund said.
The 918 Flea Market maintained a Facebook page for weeks before the opening.
In case you’re wondering, the “918” in the flea market’s name refers to the telephone area code in the Tulsa region.
Here’s the full report from the TV station:
The 918 Flea Market will open each Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rose Bowl, giving the public a greater chance to see a Route 66 landmark.
The Rose Bowl is owned by One Hope Ministry, a local nonprofit organization. Lund rents the facility from the group.
The Rose Bowl at 7419 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) was built as a bowling alley in 1961. It closed after two arson fires in 2005, and AMF slapped the facility with a non-compete clause, rendering it unable to be reopened as a bowling alley.
Chris Whinery renovated the facility and reopened it as the Rose Bowl Events Center in 2008.
One Hope Ministry bought the facility in 2012, adding a basketball court and artificial turf for the use of area children.
(Image of the Rose Bowl in Tulsa in 2016 by Stu Rapley via Flickr; image of the inside of the Rose Bowl on Sunday by 918 Flea Market via Facebook)
Does it cost anything to get in