When we think of the word monger, a few types immediately come to mind: a fishmonger; a cheese monger; even an ironmonger. But a market boasting 65 unique and diverse “mongers” selling industrial, architectural, vintage, salvaged, and reclaimed objects, isn’t necessarily top of mind. But one step inside Monger’s Market and you’ll know exactly why it should be.
Housed in a refurbished 75,000 square foot Bridgeport factory, Monger’s Market is an extraordinary sensory must-see. This mammoth warehouse of artifact nirvana features an eclectic inventory that includes furniture, lighting, architectural elements, vintage clothing and more. Lucky for us, the abundant relics are constantly changing.
“Monger’s Market opened its doors in 2018 and has become a Sunday staple for everyone from decorators to designers to dealers to artists to retailers to homeowners to collectors—and of course, anyone who simply loves cool stuff,” states John Hiden, owner and visionary extraordinaire. With an undying love for “old things”, Hiden has been collecting since he was a 12-year-old boy digging for treasures near the Long Island Sound. He fondly remembers searching his neighborhood on trash day looking for the next obscure object he could transform into a piece of art. What might have seemed like garbage to some felt like genuine gems to Hiden.
Part antique store, part museum, part flea market, part Moulin Rouge—or one “giant sculpture” as Hiden affectionately refers to it—Monger’s Market is a real-life narrative in nostalgia. In a time when the convenience of online shopping dominates, the experience of Monger’s can’t be replicated virtually, nor can the art of discovery that permeates the air. While scouring for your next score, you can also feel good about the positive impact both recycling and upcycling has on the environment.
From the monger who discovered industrial vises removed from workbenches at the Tool and Die shop in a Massachusetts factory, to the monger who drove to a farm in the Connecticut River Valley for antique fans bases that a customer might upcyle into a lamp or table, this one-of-a-kind establishment is sure to elicit a visceral reaction of epic proportions. Open every Sunday from 10am-4pm. https://www.mongers-market.com/