Letter from Moscow: A giant flea market where Russians blow off steam
Alexei Barinskiy had two problems that sooner or later most of us have: how to get rid of unwanted junk and stress. For that, he found a solution that few of us would. And along the way, he created a small business, a charity and a space where stressed-out Muscovites can take out their aggression harmlessly, legally and violently.
Barisnkiy is behind Svalka, a sprawling industrial space that was once the production facility of a top-secret Soviet defense factory, which he and a couple of co-founders turned into a huge garage sale.
Under a faded red banner that once urged Soviet workers “to work efficiently and produce quality,” a dozen of Barinskiy’s employees sort clothing, furniture, office goods and oddities, such as an old wooden portrait of Joseph Stalin and a life-size carousel with painted ponies. (“Make me an offer,” Barinskiy said during a recent tour of the space.)
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Edit from the Moscow Times: Svalka, the flea market that used to be held at the NIIDAR industrial space, has moved to a permanent location under the Krymsky Most bridge, between Gorky Park and Muzeon. For those moving house, Svalka will fetch the stuff you no longer need and sell it, with 70 percent of the profit going to charity. Apart from second-hand clothing there are books, furniture and antiques - mostly under 500 rubles ($8.80).
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