COSTA MESA : Swap Meet Vendors Want to Take Over
Unhappy with the management of the Orange County Marketplace swap meet, merchants have decided to bid for the 10-year lease on the operation next year.
About 200 of the 1,200 members of the Orange County Marketplace Merchants Assn. convened Wednesday to discuss the merchants’ problems with Tel Phil Enterprises of Newport Beach, which runs the Orange County Marketplace. The state of California oversees the lease.
Among the complaints are charges that company representatives are unresponsive. Tel Phil spokesmen could not be reached for comment.
Association President Serge Kohan declined to outline specific complaints, citing a fear of reprisals by the swap meet operator.
The merchants Wednesday also agreed to contact other corporations listed with the state as interested in bidding on the swap meet lease. They want to recommend to the state a favored company if the merchants themselves are not able to win the lease, Kohan said.
A statement issued by the merchants said they want to support a company that will care for the concerns of the swap meet vendors. The matter will be taken up by the group’s board of directors on April 3, Kohan said.
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