Meet Me at the Flea: How Red Owl Became Kingston’s Treasure-Hunting Headquarters

The Red Owl Collective story has evolved beautifully over the past few years. What began as a destination for vintage lovers has grown into a thriving community of collectors, makers, dealers, and curious treasure hunters. And now, with the addition of the monthly Red Owl Flea—a wonderfully old-fashioned open-air market held the first Sunday of the month from May through October in the lot beside the collective—there’s even more reason to make a day of it. Think coffee in hand, leisurely conversations with vendors, the thrill of the hunt, and the possibility of stumbling upon that one perfect thing you never knew you were looking for. It’s part treasure hunt, part community gathering, and a reminder that some of life’s best discoveries happen when you’re simply wandering.

We caught up with Red Owl Collective founder Cindy Hoose to see how the flea has evolved since we last met up.

INSIDE+OUT: Red Owl has grown into a destination for vintage lovers from across the region. When you look around today, what makes you most proud?

Cindy Hoose: The feeling that it’s full and vibrant, constantly changing, constantly evolving – especially the evolution of Red Owl into a Third Space for the Kingston community.

Tell us about the Red Owl shopper…who are they and how do they find out about Red Owl?

Cindy Hoose: We have shoppers from all walks of life. We have a great group of local regulars, as well as tourists up for the weekend and Hudson Valley daytrippers. Our shoppers are generally treasure hunters and love to seek out the unique.

The Red Owl Flea has quickly become one of the Hudson Valley’s favorite Sunday rituals. What inspired you to bring the charm and spontaneity of a traditional open-air flea market to Kingston?

Cindy Hoose: We wanted to lower the barrier to entry for vintage shopping and selling. It allows more members of the community to come out and dig for treasure in a fun and welcoming environment. More than anything, our monthly flea market has that fun, carnival-like atmosphere that makes it feel special and truly like a destination.

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about a real flea market. What do you think people are searching for when they spend a Sunday treasure hunting?

Cindy Hoose: I think we get folks who aren’t searching for anything specific (besides a deal), but they are often looking to experience the flea markets they went to as kids. So the nostalgia is very real at a Sunday flea market.

As both a collector and a curator, how do you know when you’ve stumbled upon something truly special?

Cindy Hoose: I’d say it is equal parts experience and intuition. You see something that speaks to you and hope that one day you can inspire that feeling in someone else. It also takes a certain amount of visionary thinking to discern the gems from the junk.

Vintage collecting seems more popular than ever. What trends are you noticing among today’s shoppers?

Cindy Hoose: We are certainly noticing more young people buying vintage clothing, especially basics they can wear to the office and statement pieces for a fun night out.  Physical media, CDs and VHS tapes specifically, are getting harder to keep on the shelves. On an average weekend, we see many folks purchasing kitchenware, art, and furniture.

Kingston has become such a creative hub in recent years. How has the city influenced the evolution of Red Owl?

Cindy Hoose: Red Owl opened at a very advantageous time in Midtown Kingston. We had a brand-new municipal parking lot across the street and a collection of other new businesses opening in the neighborhood. We’ve always been a magnet for creative shoppers – prop stylists and costume designers from the local film industry, or artists who come in to find inspiration or objects to creatively reuse.

Every seasoned picker has a memorable score. What’s one find that still makes you smile when you think about it?

Cindy Hoose: I’d say a Haeger vase that I found at an estate sale at a mid-century house near Westchester in 2020. The name Red Owl was actually inspired by that vase. Now that same vase sits at our checkout counter so I get to look at it every day and smile at the whole world this object inspired.

What vintage item are collectors hunting for more than ever in 2026?

Cindy Hoose: Everyone has their passions, so it’s really nice to see folks of all ages collecting whatever they are passionate about. There is really a community of collectors for just about anything!

For someone visiting the Red Owl for the very first time, what’s your best advice for finding the good stuff?

Cindy Hoose: Come early, stay hydrated, grab a basket for all the goodies you will find, go down every aisle, and when you are in a booth, don’t forget to look up and down. Sometimes the best stuff is hiding in plain sight!

Looking ahead, what are your hopes and dreams for the next chapter of Red Owl and the growing community that surrounds it?

Cindy Hoose: Just to continue growing a loyal cadre of regulars who love to come in and chat and connect over shared vintage passions and collections!

Cindy’s Current Obsessions…Things We Had to Ask: If you could take home one thing from Red Owl today, what would it be?

Cindy Hoose: A polka-dot lounge chair.

What’s the strangest object currently for sale that you secretly adore?

Cindy Hoose: A giant lipstick display model.

What piece has the best backstory you’ve heard this year?

Cindy Hoose: There were three 9ft tall soft serve ice cream cones up for auction – I bought one and one of our Red Owl staffers bought the second. We’d always wondered who the third ice cream triplet was; then one day one of our new vendors shared a pic of her living room, and there was the third cone!

What’s the weirdest, most wonderful, or completely unexplainable object you’ve encountered lately?

Cindy Hoose: There are so many wonderfully weird objects in the store that it was really hard to choose just one, but this pair of 1950s vinyl clown and baby-wearing-a-bunny-costume dolls is a top contender. They are definitely, maybe probably, not totally haunted.

What object perfectly captures the spirit of the Hudson Valley right now?

Cindy Hoose: This very tiny rainbow crochet balaclava, modeled here by a very tiny dog named Fergus. Happy Pride Month!

What’s your latest flea-market heartbreak—the piece you should have bought but didn’t?

Cindy Hoose: Another giant ice cream cone sign I saw at Brimfield… Can one really have too many ice cream cone signs?! At the time I said yes, but now I do regret not picking that up.

Photos courtesy of @redowlflea @redowlkingston

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