Vendor FAQs and Guidelines – Vendors at the Garden

Garden's Vendor FAQ & Rules

Updated Feb 2024

Garden at the Flea returns for another beautiful year! Hopefully this FAQs & Rules information page is useful enough to answer any questions you may have as a vendor participating in any of our onsite events. Please carefully read all the information below (Basic & Vending Guidelines) as these are mandatory requirements as a vendor.

BUT FIRST, THE BASICS

San Jose Flea Market Rules

The Garden on the Flea is located inside the San Jose Flea Market grounds, therefore SJFM's basic general vendor rules will still apply here. Please take your time to read these rules, especially if you plan on participating as a Friday Night vendor and/or additional typical SJFM weekend operations.

For full list of general vendor rules can be found here>>. (Opens SJFM Website in new tab)

Tap to Expand Information

Illegal items and inappropriate items along with certain branded merchandise are prohibited (We reserve the right to decide what is prohibited). These prohibited items may include:

Pornographic/sexualized materials
Guns or ammunition
Alcohol or tobacco products
Prepared foods, snacks, or drinks
Counterfeit Copyright Protected items (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, etc.)
Luxury Branded Merchandise and creative versions
Croc Jibbitz or similar charms products

Only annually Santa Clara County Health Dept. inspected food trucks/trailers can participate as a food vendor. If you are a food truck vendor, you can apply at >> www.gardenattheflea.com/participate/
Due to grandfathered general county health rules & guidelines that affect the Garden at the Flea space, we cannot accept any tented food vendors at this time.

No pets allowed, with the exception of service animals as required by law.

The Flea Market, Inc. reserves the right to refuse entry to any person, entity, or organization.
The Flea Market, Inc. reserves the right to refuse admission to any Seller, and to inspect all merchandise.
The Flea Market, Inc. reserves the right to designate the selling area.
Additional Vendor Rules can be found >> here. (Opens SJFM Website)

GATF VENDOR GUIDELINES

Vending Guidelines for BNM

First time or seasoned vendor, we welcome your interest in participating as a vendor at Garden at the Flea. Please take time to carefully read the information below to help your answer any questions you have.

IMPORTANT: Some events such as Pop-Up SJ Vintage Market, Cultural Events, or other Special Themed Markets are often produced by a secondary partners and may have different vendor application processing, guidelines, and participation fees for their event production. ALSO, partner hosts may have an external website for vendor applications and will not be available on this website.

Tap on Question to Expand Information

Vendors must abide by rules set by San Jose Flea Market Inc. >> https://sjfm.com/vendor-rules
Participants must move their vehicles in the parking lot at least 30 minutes before event start (i.e. For a 5 PM event, all vehicles must be out at 4:30PM).
Participants must follow directions or messages provided by Flea Market / Garden at the Flea management and security.
Absolutely, no outside alcohol, drugs, or smoking allowed on property.
IMPORTANT: Any type of violent, verbal, or abusive behavior is not tolerated and will issue right of ejection off the premises. Any participants actively participating in this behavior are not allowed to apply as a vendor at any time.
Violating any terms within the Vendor Code of Conduct is automatic dismissal from the property and no vendor refunds.

Most events are 10' x 10' ft spaces. Certain events may be limited depending on space amounts.
Typically, spaces for Berryessa Night Markets start at $30 (non-refundable for approved vendors).
Events such as Pop-Up SJ Vintage Market, Cultural Events, or other Special Themed Markets are often produced by a secondary partners and may have different vendor application processing, booth guidelines, and participation fees for their event production.

Unfortunately, the Garden at the Flea space cannot accept food/drink vendors unless you are an annually inspected Santa Clara County Health Dept Food Truck/Trailer with up-to-date business permits, fire inspected equipment, & COI.
Due to grandfathered SCC Health Dept Rules affecting certain areas like the Garden space, we cannot accept tented or tabled food/snack vendors at this time.
Food Trucks/Trailers can apply here >> gardenattheflea.com/participant-form

Your fee covers your application for vendor spaces for specific event and a parking permit for the event date.
NOTICE: It DOES NOT CONFIRM your participation in the event you apply for. Read Below for approved applications.

Typically, Tuesdays before the event date at 12:00 PM are deadlines for applications. Applying after this time, we may not have opportune time to process and approve your application. Holidays may extend deadlines to an additonal day.
We do not accept any day of drive-up vendors.

Most applications will be reviewed in 3 working days. Approval or declined notifications will be sent no later than Wednesday week of the event.
Typically on Wednesday Evenings before an event - load-in information, parking permits, and booth space assignments to confirmed vendors will be emailed.

We curate and approve vendor applications in accordance with events themes. We may issue an application cancelation or chance to forward credit to another Berryessa Night Market event date of the applicants choice.
If you receive refund/cancelation of your order & payment, your vendor application may not have been approved due to insufficient vendor information, prohibited products, previous incidents, violation of vendor rules, etc.
We reserve the right to cancel or deny applications on any grounds or merit in accordance SJFM vendor rules.

Yes, you will need to apply for each event. Vendors who have been approved for previous events are likely to have faster application approval times.

Yes, you may share with one other vendor. It is required to include all business information (name, social media, website/shop) of the other vendor in your application for approval.
We hold the right to refund/cancel any future applications of any shared booth vendors were not previously approved by the start of any event.

Recommended Items: Table(s), chairs, battery-operated lighting, booth decor. While there is a good amount of light in the space, we do not provide any power/electricity.
Optional but Recommended: 10x10ft Canopy and must stay in those space limits. You are required to have a weight on each leg with at least a combined total of 20+ lbs (i.e. 5+ lbs per leg).
You are legally responsible of any harm/damage that your canopy and booth content may incur to attendees, participants, and/or venue if an incident occurs.
No gas/fuel powered generators are allowed.
No outside alcohol, drugs, or smoking products allowed on Flea Market property.

While not required, in accordance to Flea Market vendor rules -

If you are selling less than three days a calendar year no permit or license is required at all. Otherwise, please direct all questions regarding licensing and/or permits to:

State Board of Equalization

250 Second St. San Jose, CA, 95113-2706

(408) 277 – 1231

(408) 277 – 1252 (FAX)

(800) 400 – 7115 (Info)

For Information on CA Seller's Permit >> https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/faqseller.htm
Vendors are responsible on charging and paying their own sales taxes.

There is absolutely no refunds for an approved vendor application.
If there is a chance you will miss an event, we can transfer your credit to a future event date for no additional fees.
Any vendor cancelation notices should be done at least 24-hrs in advance (Typically on Thursdays at 5 PM).
No shows or lack of notification of any cancelation (before or after an event) may affect any future vendor application opportunities.