In 1959, while working in the solid waste and landfill business, George Bumb had an idea. There had to be a profitable way to keep the perfectly usable items he saw tossed out from ending up in landfills. Hearing of the success of swap meets just getting started in LA, Bumb headed south to research how these So Cal meets were run and organized. He saw a way to improve on the idea. He took what he saw and expanded it to include individual merchant stalls, and made the whole process simpler for vendors by offering on-site product storage during the week. In March of 1960, with a meager investment, the San Jose Flea Market opened on farmland on Berryessa Road in San Jose, a narrow country lane surrounded by orchards. The first office, built and staffed by Bumb and family members, housed the only restroom and limited snack bar. We celebrate over 60 years of providing our community with a way to make money selling great stuff; save on a myriad of household items, tools, entertainment, fresh produce and a variety of services; and spend a day together as a family shopping, eating, and playing. We’ve been a community and family tradition to several generations, and that’s something we’re extremely proud of.