Mojave Flea Trading Post, Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs is known for its style and there is no shortage of amazing outdoor markets, vintage clothing stores, and boutiques to satisfy your every shopping need or retail therapy session. One of our personal favorites, the Mojave Flea Trading Post, is a 10,000 square foot marketplace that features makers and merchants from Joshua Tree, the Coachella Valley and beyond. Launched in 2018, Mojave Flea, with its East Coast roots has taken the desert by storm.

Since their arrival in our eclectic desert oasis, Mojave Flea has opened up not one, but two brick and mortar locations in the Coachella Valley and will soon be opening a third in San Francisco. We asked James Anthony Morelos, Founder & CVO of Mojave Flea to sit down with us so we could get the inside scoop on how the trading post came to be and what you can expect from the team in the near future, including a brief look into their newly launched, Maker’s Guide App.

F10 - Tell us about how Mojave Flea was started?

JA - We started producing our maker’s market called Phoenicia Flea in the Hudson Valley in 2014. Six years in, we decided to head west for the winter to launch Mojave Flea in 2018.

During the initial lockdown of COVID in 2020 we pivoted to a brick and mortar concept. We knew that we could operate, control the environment and thrive in a destination town sooner than waiting around for public events to return. It worked!

F10 - How do you choose the merchants that will be a part of the brand collective at Mojave Flea Trading Post?

JA - We love goods that are beautiful, relevant and sustainable. Something for everyone while maintaining our taste level.

F10 - How frequently do you update your online catalog?

JA - We are first and foremost an in-person, experiential store, but we use e-commerce to accommodate people who can’t stop thinking about something they saw once they leave town. We also sell a lot of art online.

F10 - We hear you have opened a new location in Yucca Valley - how did that come about?

JA - We opened our Yucca Valley location in October of 2021 because a building we loved became available to us and so many of the people we know live in the high desert. We are opening our 3rd store and first Fog City Flea Trading Post next month in the San Francisco Ferry Building.

F10 - How do the Yucca Valley and San Francisco locations differ from the PS location?

JA - The core of each store is the small brands and creatives in those communities. We do like to connect the dots as well, so there is also some cross pollination of brands from other regions.

F10 - What is The Maker’s Guide App - give us the inside scoop and all the details?!

JA - So many people come into our stores and they all ask, “what else should we do?”. So, it made perfect sense to curate all the businesses we love outside of our own store into a printed guide and mobile app. It’s our favorite places to eat, drink, shop, experience and stay. We published our Palm Springs guide in December 2021. Our Joshua Tree guide is coming soon! (The app is available for download now on OS + Android!)

F10 - How has COVID impacted your business?

JA - Actually, COVID was the catalyst for our pivot into brick and mortar retail. We went for it and it changed our lives. As difficult as the pandemic has been for all people, we’re grateful for the opportunity it provided.

F10 - What is one item at Mojave Flea you are currently coveting but haven’t purchased yet?!

JA - OMG. So many beautiful things. It’s exciting because there are always new, one of a kind things as well as new collections to shop. I personally LOVE shopping in my own store.

F10 - Where are some of your personal favorite spots in town to shop, eat or drink?

JA - Well, you can refer to The Maker’s Guide, but right now I’m obsessed with Cheeky’s (go early), Big Bud Press (one of the most size inclusive brands in the world) and Tailor Shop (discreet & chic).

F10 - What does your ideal weekend in Palm Springs look like?

JA - Eating. Drinking. Sleeping. Repeat.