Astoria’s March Madness Vintage Market bloomed last night, with Queens digging NYC’s retro roots. Vendor Tariq Evans sold ’80s tees as 400 shopped a lot off Steinway, pure spring vibe. It’s borough finds—$10 entry, treasures galore, Queens soul. A kid nabbed a vinyl; a pro hauled a lamp. ‘Queens digs deep—this is it,’ Evans says, folding threads. The stalls turned time warp.
The market’s a hit—annual, it tripled since ’24, packing rows by noon. Evans, a LIC picker; last night’s haul hit 300 sales—cash flew. A jacket sparked a bid war; haggling buzzed—NYC grit glowed. Rain held—sun fueled it. #QueensVintage trended; Brooklyn’s hunting.
Some griped—’Too dusty,’ sniped a newbie, dodging moths. Space squeezed—latecomers bumped; deals held. A table wobbled—propped quick; market rolled. Manhattan wants in, but Astoria owns it—past rules. The lot’s never shopped so old.
Evans hints at a spring encore, maybe a flea tie-in if finds bite. ‘NYC’s junk—this shines it,’ he says, boxing relics. The market’s a Queens win—grit meets gems. It’s a retro rush; catch the next. Bring a bag—history sells.