Soul Real Market brings variety, community to OC
Photo Collage by Lauren Chen
It takes a lot to entice crowds to brave the outdoors in 90-degree heat or pouring rain, but Soul Real Market has accomplished exactly that. In a little over three years, the Southern California-based traveling flea market has gained a cult following for its diverse yet deliberate selection of handmade, vintage and specialty offerings.
Angelica Mortera and Nick Salunga co-founded Soul Real Market in 2022, setting up shop in Stanton’s Rodeo 39 Public Market with fewer than fifty booths. It soon outgrew that location, expanding to outdoor spaces in Orange and San Diego counties. There are three to four themed markets each month, rain or shine.
“We started off wanting to be a vintage market, but we evolved into wanting to bring an elevated experience, so that anybody who comes in feels like they're welcomed,” Salunga said.
The “I <3 K-Pop” themed market in Tustin on Sept. 6 was a prime example. There were densely packed, colorful tents providing much-needed shade while making the atmosphere fully immersive. Many of the vendors sold trendy, curated clothes. Some adhered to the theme with handmade keychains and stickers of popular Korean idol groups. Others sold secondhand items ranging from watches to collectible figurines, such as the Japanese cherub dolls called Sonny Angels.
Photo by Lauren Chen
True to their Instagram slogan, “Something for everyone,” Soul Real Market also hosts activities and workshops during their events. They’ve created an elevated experience, which might be the reason for their devoted clientele.
The Tustin market, for example, held a photocard decorating workshop and a Random Play Dance (RPD) — a game among K-pop fans where a DJ cycles through short clips of songs and anyone in the audience who knows the corresponding choreography can jump in and perform. One shopper dropped their bags and ran across the event space just to get up on stage and perform a particular song.
Photo by Lauren Chen
This unique combination of shopping and activities is what has brought junior global communication and world languages major Myra Ceja-Concepcion to the market four times since her freshman year.
“My first experience at Soul Real Market was at an outing with Chapman (Asian Pacific Student Association),” she said. “I love how many vendors there are to buy from, and all of the other fun things to do, so it’s always fun to go with friends.”
It’s not uncommon to see repeat customers interacting with their favorite vendors. There’s a special feeling of kinship that Soul Real Market has cultivated that feels truly one-of-a-kind.
Mortera and Salunga have noticed, too, and recalled the “Chromakopia” themed market from January as a standout success despite inclement weather.
“There were a bunch of people who came out to the first market of the year and it was pouring rain,” Salunga said. “I just thought that it was super cool that the rain didn't stop anybody from coming.”
Looking ahead, the pair plan on developing more activities for their markets while eventually hoping to enhance their online store and increase their presence in other states.
“It’s so special to see how far we’ve gone. At first, we just wanted to create a safe space for vintage and trinket lovers in OC, but I feel like it's progressed so much since then,” Mortera said. “People from every walk of life come and just celebrate a day just to shop.”