You will find parking and shopping inside this Downtown Pittsburgh garage

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop, The Tribune-Review, Greensburg
·3 min read

Mar. 14—Shoppers can buy items out of the trunk of someone's car next month at a parking garage in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership is hosting "Car Bazaar," a flea market of makers, artists, retailers and people selling second-hand items.

Vehicles will be parked on several floors of the Sixth Street and Penn Avenue garage in Downtown Pittsburgh beginning April 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every Saturday that month.

The roof will be available, weather permitting.

"I have done other events where I set up a table, but never sold anything out of my car," said Channing Powell, of Robinson, owner of ChanningLane Vintage, a clothing and accessories business featuring items from 1960s to the 1990s. "I will have to find a creative way to set up the trunk space."

Powell finds merchandise through her travels to estate sales throughout the U.S. She scours thrift shops looking for treasures. She enjoys finding pieces that will never be made again, "that rare item, that diamond in the rough," she said.

Seller spaces are $15 and include a parking space and an adjacent spot that can be used for displays.

Vendors can make a reservation here. Same-day sellers will be accepted if space is available.

The event is free.

A limited number parking spots will be available for shoppers with advance reservation online here.

Face masks will be required.

"Spring is around the corner, and Downtown is rolling out the warm weather welcome mat, starting with the 'Car Bazaar,'" said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership in a statement.

Joseph Morrison, of Wilkins, who co-owns Fresh Heirlooms, an upcycled décor, furniture and glassware company with partner Lindsay Woge, will be selling pop bottles he has fashioned into usable drinking glasses .

"I think this is a brilliant idea," said Morrison. "I have heard a lot of stories about Downtown Pittsburgh being deserted. This is a way to bring people back to the city."

Morrison has been spending more time making glassware since being furloughed from his full-time job as programmer and venue manager of the Harris Theater, Downtown.

"I can't wait to get back to the theater. But until that time, I am focusing on recycling these amazing bottles," Morrison said, noting the legacy of so many bottling companies in Western Pennsylvania. "We keep the label and you can see where it is from. I always say we are on the cutting edge of recycling, literally."

In addition to shopping there will be live music, food and cocktails. Tako will be selling brunch items and specialty cocktails, including a Bloody Maria, made with tequila.

Casey Henderlong, director of events and public relations for Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group, which owns Tako, is gearing up for the first bazaar. "I believe this event will bring a lot of people because it will be in an open air space."

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .