The Cypress College Swap Meet has been bringing the city of Cypress a wide array of business for decades now, and continues to be a traditional SoCal focal point for many of California’s top merchants and vendors. Various citizens from a wide array of backgrounds all converge on the Chargers’ campus to purchase, trade, and sell a plethora of consumer goods ranging from fresh produce, to clothing, to electronics.
The bustling of excited and enthusiastic costumers fill the marketplace as everyone is off to purchase antique furniture, shoes, or hunting equipment.
The Cypress College Swap Meet has been bringing the city of Cypress a wide array of business for decades now, and continues to be a traditional SoCal focal point for many of California’s top merchants and vendors. Various citizens from a wide array of backgrounds all converge on the Chargers’ campus to purchase, trade, and sell a plethora of consumer goods ranging from fresh produce, to clothing, to electronics.
The bustling of excited and enthusiastic costumers fill the marketplace as everyone is off to purchase antique furniture, shoes, or hunting equipment.
“I have been selling and doing business here for over seven years now,” says Edgar Jurado, who is an athletic shoe salesman at the Cypress Swap Meet. “My running and track and field shoes have been my hottest ticket items. I have been getting a good turnout and reception from both male and female athletes. They are very popular, and the runners really love them.”
Jurado really enjoys the different people who visit his booth. He really enjoys the unity and diversity. “I love to meet new people from different cultures. I love the fact that everyone comes here to share time and do business with each other. There is always a heavy flow of wonderful people who are friendly.
Everyone has a story to share. The venue is always packed and we make good business while making lifelong friends.” Lynn Bolder has sold rock and roll merchandise here at the Cypress College Swap Meet for over 20 years and concurs with all that Jurado has said.
“I love the shoppers here because they are really friendly. It is a good place to come to sell consumer goods. We need more publicity and more people to come out to experience what we have going on over here. I don’t think people know that the swap meet is here.”
With more publicity, Bolder strongly feels like the Cypress College Swap Meet could really blow up and expand into something more.
“There is a ton of awesome stuff here, and all at good prices that are way cheaper than a bigger corporate store like a Target or Walmart. It is even better than the local mall. At least here, you will get the best one on one customer service, you will personally get to know the merchants who are selling the products to you, and you get to be outdoors and will get in some exercise.”
Bolder himself had a wide variety of wonderful items that were for sale. He was selling rather unique and hard to find historical rock and roll musical memorabilia from all of the legendary bands of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Bolder had rocker T-Shirts of acts ranging from The Doors, to Nirvana, to Bon Jovi. He also had many different types of incense, soaps, and exotic candles for any hardcore rocker who wished to share in a little romance with that special “iron maiden,” in his life after the show was over.
“These rocker shirts sell in the local mall and at concerts for 20 dollars and over, but I’m selling the best legendary rock band T-shirts for only five dollars,” exclaimed Bolder. “Tell me where you will ever find a deal like that?” Eric Olsen has been working for Bolder for five years and has been attending the Cypress College Swap Meet for over 30 years. “I still come out here and shop for whatever I need,” explains Olsen. “Whenever I am not working, I like to browse the lanes and halls looking for various items. This is a great place to find all kinds of rare goods that you won’t be able to find in a store here in this city, or even from this state, or country.” The thing that seems to warm the heart of Olsen the most is the interactions with people, and the many friends that he has made over the years.
“There are many good people out there, and the SoCal folks are just so cool. The vendors and the citizens are what makes this place light up, they make it lively, and they are the reason why I keep coming back. It’s not a bad gig coming to sell here; I love our customers, and their hospitality.”
Esther Cruz has been selling and doing business at the Cypress College Swap Meet for five years. She specializes in the sale of bedding, blankets, and bedroom décor.
“I love interacting with the customers, I also love that they always compliment me about my visual displays and set ups. They seem to really appreciate my hard work and effort.” Cruz also enjoys the diversity of the crowd that comes through the Cypress Swap Meet. “We have a heavy population of various Latino and Asian people from the different cultures of each ethnicity, but we have been getting more people from other races coming through to sell, trade, and shop over the past several years.
"The people like the good prices, and the true customer service. Here you will get direct interaction with the merchant, more shops to choose from, and rare items from other states and countries that you cannot purchase locally. The experience is just different. You are outside enjoying the weather, the shops are condensed and aren’t so overwhelming like other large corporations tend to be, and you get to make new long lasting relationships.”
With the Chargers’ campus packed to the brim, a diverse crowd assembles to share goods, ideas, stories, and friendships, and will continue to do so for generations to come. “If you got the time, come on down and take a walk with us. It’s a good time for everybody,” says Olson. Based on the filled hallways and isles, it looks like all of Southern California heard Olson’s call.
