Do you prefer to swap or meet? You can do both at Kobey’s Swap Meet!

A swap meet, also known as a flea market, is a gathering of vendors selling all sorts of new and used items – antiques, clothing, food, toys, household items, electronics. Nearly anything you need, and even things you didn’t know you need, can be found at a swap meet. 

Swap meets have a long history in Southern California, dating back to the 1970’s when Latino immigrants began gathering to sell affordable goods in outdoor venues, similar to the open-air markets of Mexico. Today, swap meets can be found in cities across the country, both indoors and outdoors. The largest swap meet is the 127 Corridor Sale, spanning more than 700 miles along Highway 127 from Michigan to Alabama. 

In San Diego, the longest running, and most well-known, flea market is Kobey’s Swap Meet. Started by Monte Kobey in 1976, the original location was at the old Midway Drive-in Theatre. According to the Kobey’s website, in August of 1980, Monte was given the opportunity to move down the street to the newly built San Diego Sports Arena. During the 1980’s Kobey’s transformed into a destination for tourists and San Diegans alike. Kobey’s became the 3rd busiest tourist attraction after the Zoo & Sea World.

Holding about 1,000 vendors, Kobey’s welcomes about 20,000 shoppers weekly and celebrates the diversity of visitors, vendors, goods, and cultures every weekend. 

This past weekend I had the privilege of visiting Kobey’s to explore the variety of vendors, meet some shoppers, and taste my way through the various food trucks. 

To start, I appreciated the free parking and helpful service from attendants at the Pechanga Arena which is right next door. A quick two minute walk through the parking lot with dozens of other excited shoppers put me at the entrance, where a simple $2 fee gave way to rows and rows of shopping delight. 

I was immediately drawn to one of the plant stalls, where ferns, succulents, and beautiful frowns in many shapes and colors quickly transported me into what felt like the rain forest. I soon realized there were many plant fanatics shopping with me, chatting with their friends about their growing collections and where they planned to put their new greenery. 

I continued walking, passing vendors selling hats, vintage clothing, hot wheels cars, video games, records, VHS tapes, incense, and jewelry. Sensory overload was in full swing, with my eyes darting from booth to booth while my nose was pulled in the direction of various food trucks serving up yummy treats from tacos to hot dogs, burgers, ice cream, and churros. 

I stopped for an agua fresca where I chatted with a woman who comes to Kobey’s almost every weekend. Denise Abrahms, an Encinitas resident, told me “I love Kobey’s because I can always count on finding something that makes me smile, and that I know I can’t find anywhere else. There are so many unique pieces, and so much history behind them. I love hearing the stories from vendors of how the items came into their possession.” 

After swapping stories for a few more minutes, I carried on, making my way to a fruit and veggie stand where I snagged some locally grown avocados, oranges, peppers and other produce. From there, I found myself admiring gemstones and talking to the guys behind the table about their growing business. David Myers, originally from Phoenix, moved to San Diego about a year ago with some friends after visiting and falling in love with the city. “I’ve always loved collecting gemstones,” David told me. “I love coming to Kobey’s and sharing my passion with others.” 

As I continued to make my way down the aisles, one thing that stood out was how friendly everyone was. People were smiling, eager to share their favorite finds, explain the history of their items, and make new friends. Laughter and chatter filled the air, helping to make the large space feel much more intimate. 

After walking for about two hours and visiting dozens of stalls, I decided to call it an afternoon – in part because my shopping bag was full of treasures. 

What was the highlight of Kobey’s Swap Meet? Meeting cool people and swapping stories with swap meet enthusiasts. 

Kobey’s is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Kobey’s Swap Meet
https://kobeyswap.com/
3500 Sports Arena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110