Forging community at the 406 Flea market

Bozeman community members who walked into the Midtown Event Space on Jan. 24 were immediately drawn to the various colorful and trendy thrift and art vendors set up around the room. Inside, various vintage clothing sellers — along with local art and jewelry booths — organized clothing racks and tables to kick off the second-ever 406 Flea market.

406 Flea was created by Megan Estes and Olivia Wiemholt in 2024. They held their first Flea market on Nov. 16 2024, at Beacon Coffee Roasters.

A vintage rack curated by Stella’s Thrifty Finds near the entrance. The owner, Stella Lobinsky, started her thrift business while she was in high school.

“It’s been harder in college, but it's such a good time. I've met so many awesome people,” Lobinsky said. Lobinsky is currently a junior at MSU studying business marketing. “I love looking at other people’s stuff; it's so awesome seeing what other people have,” she said when asked what she liked most about events like 406 Flea.

Across the walkway and one booth down was Brinley’s Business, by local artist Brinley Nielson. She creates colorful jewelry with materials ranging from seashells and stones to broken plates.

“I’ve always been kind of an entrepreneur,” Nielson said. She spoke about how she has loved creating jewelry since she was little, reflecting on her childhood when she made jewelry out of duct tape. “It’s just cool to be in a community of artists, and then meet other people that are also entrepreneurs.”

The founders Wiemholt and Estes discussed how their organization works to foster community and why they wanted to start a flea market. “I’m from here, and growing up there hasn’t been an art scene, a vintage scene, like that's all kind of just starting, it feels,” Estes said. “When [Wiemholt] brought [the idea of a flea market] up, I was like, we need to do that.”

“I think Bozeman can be a difficult place to make friends if you're not a skier or a climber — if you're not into outdoor things,” Estes said. According to her, 406 Flea has helped expand the secondhand community in Bozeman.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, what you love, you’re welcome,” Wiemholt said.

The next 406 Flea event will be held at Beacon Coffee Roasters on Feb. 13 from 4-6 p.m. To find out more information on the event, visit its Instagram @406flea.

To check out both Lobinksy’s and Nielson’s thrift businesses, head to their Instagrams @stellasthriftyfinds and @brinleys.business.