Rumors that the Ceres Flea Market on Whitmore Avenue is closing just aren't true.
According to one vendor, someone on social media has made claims that the venue is closing. Jerry Reeder, the manager of the market for the past two years, hadn't heard the rumors but he said there's not an ounce of truth in it.
"We're building it back up, slow but sure," said Reeder.
Vendor Sharon Wilson said she was finding bad reviews about the Ceres Flea Mart on line because of false reports of its closure. As a result, customer traffic has suffered.
"Customers just dropped off totally," said Wilson, "and we're trying to bring them back."
She and other vendors pooled money to buy an ad in the Courier to promote the flea market.
Wilson, who buys the contents of storage units at auctions, said she has been at the flea market peddling goods for "every weekend for five years."
Wilson said she would like to see the Ceres Flea Market return to the bustle of its heyday about a decade ago. She does not want to pull up stakes and take her business to the larger El Rematito Flea Market on Crows Landing Road or the Modesto Seventh Street Flea Market.
"We want to be in Ceres and we want to bring back the market that was in Ceres. We want that vibe back. That was a huge market - it was awesome - and we want to bring it back."
Reeder said that his market is open Fridays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approximately 35 to 40 vendors sell goods there, said Reeder.
Modesto realtor Adrian Castillo runs the facility.