46-year-old Pinellas flea market staying put despite development

An iconic Tampa Bay flea market says it's remaining open after a portion of the property it sat on was sold to the Kolter Group, the prolific Delray Beach developer.

The Oldsmar Flea Market, which has been open for 46 years, is at 180 Racetrack Road, just off Tampa Road near the Pinellas and Hillsborough county line.

According to the market, it has consolidated its operations into seven buildings totaling 140,000 square feet on 16 acres north of the apartment property.

Kolter Group, according to Pinellas records, paid $13.9 million for a portion of the land where it plans to build a 279-unity community. 

The seller was St. Petersburg-based Oldsmar Track LLC.

According to the market’s website, the space was a self-storage building until owner Richard Ferkich Sr. realized some of the tenants were selling merchandise out of their units. He turned it into the market soon after in 1980.

It sold to Grady Pridgen in 2018.

Grady C. Pridgen III is listed as the manager of Oldsmar Track LLC in state corporation records.