On July 7th, the Tropicana Flea Market, located on NW 36th street, between NW 29th and 30th avenues, suffered a devastating fire. The flames burned down large sections of the market, destroying tents and goods for sale. According to management, 47 tents were fully destroyed, leaving 34 business owners without their merchandise nor a place to continue operating.
After the fire, representatives from the Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor were on site to assess the damage and speak with the vendors affected by the blaze. Some of the response and relief efforts that have taken place in the two weeks since the fire, include:
- The county is holding weekly community meetings to inform residents about the status of support efforts, answer questions, outline next steps, and provide one-on-one assistance in completing aid forms.
- Funds are also being raised on behalf of the small business owners whose livelihoods were lost.
- Miami-Dade County is working in collaboration with the Allapattah Collaborative CDC to create a relief fund with the goal of raising $250,000 for the victims, and JP Morgan Chase has already agreed to donate $50,000.
- The county is also working to provide Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds to the victims of the fire.
- Organizations such as The Agape Network and Bridge to Hope are on-hand weekly to assist with mental health resources and food distribution, respectively. Food distribution from Bridge to Hope started on July 13th and will continue for four weeks.
- The County’s Code Compliance Division is working with the property owner to ensure the building is safe to occupy before allowing tenants back in.
“Tropicana Flea Market has stood for 30 years, providing opportunities for small business owners and their families, and supplying affordable goods for the community,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This fire is a tragedy for those who relied on the flea market for their income. The Mayor’s Office is working to support the victims and identify funds that will make them whole. It is devastating to have your entire inventory and livelihood destroyed. We will not abandon our neighbors in their time of need.”
