Red Barn Flea Market & Plaza, Bradenton

I cannot believe the deal and service I got at one of their venders. The Vender was Battery Maxx and did they have a nice store. I bought a 12 pack of Sure Fire Batteries for less then a 6 Pack. They also had 4 packs of Energizers for $2.95. I bought a Fenix LD20 light from them for only $63.00!!!! They have Sure Fire, Fenix and Pelican lights, this is a awsome store. A deffinite need to shop if you love flashlights like me. The overall feelin of the Barn is nice. The food is Carnival food, but sooo good. they have live music on Fri. and Sat. Fun place to visit...

What a neat place to spend some time. Lots of bargains esp. the battery store! They had lots of great deals on flashlights and batteries. When using the bathroom I found that it was clean and well stocked.

Rats and roaches running around food areas. Peacocks wondering around the place crapping everywhere. (you are not permitted to touch them.) Food left outside sitting in sun all week. GROSS. As for the other booths, same ole, same ole that is at any fleamarket. Lots and lots of empty booths. I checked and found out the rent is very pricey for a fleamarket, hence so many empty booths. We drove up from Naples and felt we wasted our time and left after less than an hour there. The glory days of this fleamarket are long gone. Don't waste your time going as it appears the health department doesn't waste it's time either going out and checking this place out.

So much to look at and good prices to. Check out all jewerly booths some are cheaper then others. People were friendly but need more taples to eat at, can't wait to go back next trip to Venice visiting my friends Desney and Larry. - Barb and Pete from Wilson NY

The main food eateries seem to escape inspection. Best bet for food is the smaller independent Vendors - who still respect the food service regualtions. There is a great candy shop, fudge shop and a bakery that all have great stuff! After speaking to many vendors I was advised not to eat at Hot Rodds or the Mexican food. Many of them quit eating there years ago. I figured the insiders knew best. They also advised that management is an issue which is causing the lack of vendors and high turnover. In this economy they continue to charge the highest rent in the State for Vendors and as I saw it, did nothing to help promote their vendors business'. There are many good shops and reputible business' that are at the Red Barn and have been for a long time. It's all worth a visit but, remember that even though there are long established business' there - it's still a flea market.

if you want to waste a trip and have nothing to do like we did stop here

It is what it is. A Flea Market. I have been to the Red Barn off and on all my life. Many of you mentioned management as far as the place going down hill. Everytime I read a thread people all read each others things and almost say the same things. I will agree with everything I read abouth this pile of junk. I do want to add some things for thought. As far as management I do not know who they are now. There used to be an older gentleman named Carl that owned it. He was a very nice person. Who owns it now I have no idea and do not care. We stopped going there about 2 years. From what people are saying about the produce its always been outside and has been. I have eatin food from the Red Barn and lived. Would I ever eat there again? The answer is NEVER. People try to understand its a Flea Market. One more thing look at the location. Its in a city where anything goes Bradenton. Would you expect anything good or sanitary in that city? lol

Don't eat any of the so called food from the Mexican so called place. We had some food that made us both sick. We ate it from some trailer in the back of the place near a bunch of produce that looked terrible. Can we say Health Department. The management at this place must not even exist. Inside the place it looks like a deserted shopping mall. Then to end our visit some jerk who worked there was talking on the phone while driving a golf cart almost hit my son. This place is a mess.

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Produce outside had rats running it. A person that works out there said that is normal because the food is always outside all week. This market used to be good when the original ran it. Now it is not even worth stopping. The current management has let the place go. DO NOT EVEN BOTHER GOING HERE. JUST ANOTHER BRADENTON TRAP.