Alexis Wanzell
The Grand Bazaar NYC Venue located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan serves the borough as a marketplace rich in unique products from local artists and artisans. Though New York City is famous for its hole-in-the-wall artist markets, the Grand Bazaar stands alone in the sense that their profits go entirely to four local public schools, helping over 2,000 children. The venue serves as a win-win-win since it helps local artists and artisans gain exposure, local public schools gain funding, and the community surrounding it has access to local art and innovation. 
The Grand Bazaar NYC Venue originally named the GreenFleaMarket, started from a humble beginning. In 1982, a group of mothers decided to open a flea market in order to fund their children‘s public schools. Originally, the funding and donations went solely to the public-school P.S. 334 Anderson School, though once popularity grew, funding expanded to three more schools within the community including The Parent Associations of P.S. 87, The Computer School, and the M.S. 247 Dual Language Middle School. What began as a small flea market has now lasted and grown for nearly thirty-five years making it New York City’s oldest market still standing and its popularity is not fading. In peak season, nearly 200 vendors will occupy the 43,000 feet of indoor and outdoor space that cater to the local artists and artisans that set up shop from 10 to 5:30 every Sunday. The venue’s diversity and authenticity amongst the artwork and products throughout the market create a deeper awareness of the talent that lives within New York. In just 2016, the name “GreenFlea Market” was changed to “Grand Bazaar NYC” to pay homage to the enormous array of talent, creation, design, and innovation that have a place to be showcased every Sunday.
Grand Bazaar NYC still stands alone in its mission to fund schools within the community. Though the donations do not just go anywhere, in fact, the funding mirrors the nature of the Grand Bazaar venue in that in focuses on art, creation, resources, innovation and its importance for children that are still growing and developing. The funding within the schools goes mainly toward art enrichment programs, books, supplies, teaching assistants, sports and chess programs. Much like the essence of the artists and artisans represented at the Grand Bazaar, its funding go toward programs that focus on the same principles. Since the market’s roots go back thirty-five years, students who attended the funded schools now come back to the venue as artists and artisans themselves, coming full circle back to the venue that helped them grow as a student.
The venue in relation to the schools it funds has come in a full circle of support. Though Grand Bazaar NYC has funded and supported the four surrounding schools, the community gives back as well. The venue itself is located both outside on the court’s and inside of the cafeteria of The Computer School. The 43,000 square foot space is lent to Grand Bazaar NYC by the school every Sunday in order to host their events and have vast space in order to fit up to 200 vendors at a time.
Grand Bazaar NYC serves as a venue unique in its quality to support multiple communities at once, including four local public schools, local artists, and the community surrounding it. It’s contributions to each community have created a chain effect of love and support shared within each that has created a unique dynamic between venue and community that has never been shared before.