Flea Market Montgomery is a 73,000 square-foot flea market in Montgomery, Alabama, which advertises itself as being "just like a mini-mall." The market is owned by local businessman Sammy Stephens.[1]
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Popular commercial
The flea market gained fame in November 2006 thanks to a music video advertisement produced by owner Sammy Stephens and his subsequent appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[2][3][4] This advertising was in the form of a rap-style commercial which spread through the internet via YouTube, BoingBoing, and similar sites. This video and related materials use the slogan, "It's just like a mini mall." Stephens appears in the advertisement, showing off living room, bedroom, and dinette sets.[2][5]
Cultural impact
- The spread of the video turned Flea Market Montgomery into a tourist destination, especially among college students.[6] Capitalizing on the popularity of the advertisements, Sammy Stephens subsequently began selling a variety of flea market-related merchandise, ranging from t-shirts to mobile phone ringtones.
- In The Office episode The Michael Scott Paper Company, Ryan Howard watches the 'mini mall' music video on a laptop.
- In a behind the scenes video from Family Force 5, a rock band from Atlanta, Sammy Stephens shows off the Flea Market and jams with the band using instruments for sale inside the mall. Stephens is then shown performing on stage at the Family Force 5 concert later that evening (2007).
- Parodied in the Reno 911! episode Deputy Dance with the part of Sammy Stephens being played by Craig Robinson.
Ownership
In 2000, Stephens began selling at Flea Market Montgomery with toys in three rented booths.[7] Whenever another vendor would leave a booth, Stephens would take it over. Within a few years, Stephens had purchased the entire market.[7] Before buying the market, Stephens had been a local disc jockey known as "The Candyman" on WMGY and WXVI and provided songwriting to other local singers and rappers.[7]
References
- ^ Lemons, Deidra M. (2004-05-05). "Montgomery, Ala., Job-A-Thon Works for Many". Montgomery Advertiser. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-17173714_ITM.
- ^ a b Brumback, Kate (2007-06-30). "Alabama flea market owner turns into YouTube phenomenon". Associated Press / Knoxville News Sentinel. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/jun/30/alabama-flea-market-owner-turns-youtube-phenomenon/.
- ^ Barker, Cyril Josh (2006-12-01). "Local ad man sets new beat for 'Ellen'". Montgomery Advertiser. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-28783262_ITM.
- ^ Official Sammy Stephens Online. Press release. http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/FLMM5719/mycustompage0001.htm.
- ^ Shawne McKeown (July 9, 2008). "A Look Behind Local Commercials, Pt. 1: Russell "Cashman" Oliver". CityNews. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_24595.aspx.
- ^ Simmons, Darryn (2007-03-18). "Flea market turns into hot spring break destination". Montgomery Advertiser. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-30036243_ITM.
- ^ a b c Simmons, Darryn (2007-04-20). "Sammy Stephens: Just like a celebrity". Montgomery Advertiser. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-30364316_ITM.
External links
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