Worcester Flea Market forced to close due to code violations
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The front entrance of the Worcester Flea Market on Quinsigamond Avenue
The Worcester Flea Market on Quinsigamond Avenue has been ordered to close by the Worcester Department of Inspectional Services, according to a notice from the city posted on the market’s door and dated Nov. 24.
In the notice, Commissioner of Inspectional Services Christopher Spencer wrote the building is not up to code and the site lacks a special use permit to operate a flea market. A Change of Use permit to allow flea market operation was denied for the site in 2008, per the letter.
The code violations listed in the notice are mostly to do with fire safety, including unsafe entryways and a lack of exit signs. There has not been a full inspection of the site, so the list of violations is not confirmed or complete.
“The City of Worcester stands ready to assist you in making the building safe and code compliant for such a use,” Spencer wrote in the letter. “We value the economic impact of such a use, its service to the public, and the benefit it has for both the vendors and their customers.”
Located on 4 Quinsigamond Ave., the Worcester Flea Market is typically open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. In a Facebook post on Nov. 28, it was announced the market would be closed due to an emergency exit problem.
The letter was addressed to Benjamin Mantyla, who was unavailable for comment.
Mantyla was also involved with the property across the street from the flea market, which includes Miss Worcester Diner and the mill building formerly used as a community space and known as The Bridge. That site was rezoned in August to be renovated into a 21-unit residential space.
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