Local’s Guide to Mongers Market in Bridgeport, CT (CLOSED)

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This attraction is now closed. You may still be able to find some of the former vendors on the Mongers Market Instagram account.

Mongers Market in Bridgeport, CT is a destination in itself. Still, it took me over a year of living here to spend a couple hours exploring this curious place. 

But, what exactly is Mongers Market? Sitting directly next to I-95, the giant signage and crisp paint on the side of this old factory building make it clear that this is not just another casualty of industry’s decline in a once-booming manufacturing town. The brick building has become something new, and it elicits (I’m guessing) daily curiosity from interstate passersby. 

I set out one Sunday morning to discover just what makes Mongers Market so popular and what I could find inside. 

What Is Mongers Market? (And what exactly is a monger?)

Perhaps classified as a flea market, Mongers Market is full of more than just secondhand goods. This is definitely not just a giant thrift store.

Opened in 2018, Mongers Market is a large 75,000 square foot market with vintage goods, antiques, and industrial salvage. Vendors rent out space to sell a variety of items like clothing, furniture, signs, dishes, lighting, jewelry, and decor. 

Vendors are called “mongers”—someone who sells a particular good. They could be an ironmonger or a vintage tape measure monger or a jewelry monger or a lamp monger. Most likely, they’re a little-of-everything monger. 

What to Expect Visiting Mongers Market in Bridgeport

Stepping past the front desk after paying my entrance fee, I was faced with a decision about whether to go straight or left. Should I stop to explore each stall to my left and right? With a giant warehouse space unfolding into rows and rows ahead of me, I decided to walk ahead and let curiosity be my guide. 

As I strolled, I took in furniture crafted from reclaimed wood, books begging me to smell their musty pages, vintage cameras that I somehow refrained from purchasing, and retro dishes that I swear came straight out of my grandma’s kitchen. 

Not long into my window shopping, I noticed a luminescent stall full of interesting light fixtures, a man working away quietly at the back corner. Popping his head up, he greeted a few of us who were clearly fascinated by his creations.

A retired architect, Richard Rose started tinkering with lighting fixtures and realized (with a little prodding from his wife) that he might need to do something with them when the collection in their spare room reached more than 100 lights. 

His lamps are made from old materials, like a fitting for a propeller, a Ford carburetor, the inside of a vintage hair dryer, and an old flagpole base. “I just see things and I imagine them,” he told me. 

Eventually, I pried myself away and started getting lost in the aisles again—childhood memories all around at the sight of cassette tapes or a True Value sign or a little bowl of Fireballs. 

Turning a corner, I was pulled in immediately by the vintage hardware shop, Robbins and Sons Hardware.

It wasn’t long before the proprietor, Barry, started asking about my camera (always a good ice breaker for this introvert) and we were chatting away about his store.

From his collection of vintage measuring tapes to the connections he makes, it’s clear that he’s passionate about being here at Mongers Market. Flipping through pages to magazine spreads featuring his vintage tapes—he has one of the largest and rarest collections in the country—he told me about some of his favorite pieces. 

I walked on and continued exploring row after row, thinking about how this was the kind of place  where someone might be passionate about vintage measuring tape or unique lighting fixtures or tables made from salvaged materials—things I may have never noticed if not for a conversation. 

It’s fitting that Mongers Market is located inside a refurbished electric company factory. It’s a place where old things find new life—some of them just cleaned up a bit and others become something entirely new in the hands of a creative artisan. 

I spent a solid two hours exploring row after row, and I’m certain I missed plenty. With such diverse items and sellers, I’m sure no two trips would ever be the same. If you’re on a treasure hunt for unique home decor and more, you’re likely to find it here.

Wondering what else to do? Here’s my local’s guide with 10+ fun activities in Bridgeport—from live music to outdoor yoga to a beautiful beach and lighthouse.

Where to Eat in Bridgeport Near Mongers Market

The nearby Black Rock neighborhood has a number of great restaurants. Sound Coffee (recently re-opened from the previous Source Coffeehouse) has a small menu of food items and excellent coffee. Harborview Market has a good variety of breakfast and lunch menu options and lots of seating. For a sit down lunch or dinner, Bereket Turkish Restaurant is quite nice. They have a small, beautiful interior and a cute outdoor space.

One of our newly discovered favorites is Blind Rhino, which has award-winning wings. Much of their menu is made in house (including actually hand-cut fries), and they’ve got a good selection of drinks. There is some outdoor patio seating in warmer months.

In other areas of Bridgeport, you’ll find everything from soul food to Italian to a variety of Latin American cuisines. There are a number of places I haven’t been, so I hope to add to this list as I find more of those hidden gem mom and pop shops as well as other local favorites. 

If you’re in the mood for pizza, we love Arthur’s Famous Pizza (not to be confused with Julio’s Famous Pizza a couple blocks away). It’s affordable, has a casual interior, and is a local institution. It’s not exactly New Haven’s apizza, but it has a thin and crispy crust and is our go-to for a simple, classic pizza in Bridgeport. 

Check out Brewport for some more creative pizza options (think white clam or even mashed potato) plus plenty of drink options. 

If you’re looking for something a bit nicer, Boca Oyster Bar, located on the water near the ferry, is a good spot in the summer. Note that there’s currently construction of large apartment buildings nearby, so that could detract from the waterfront experience in 2025. (We haven’t been yet this year so I cannot say for sure.)

EAT Noodle + Rice is a nice spot in downtown Bridgeport if you’re craving a bowl of noodles (including pho, ramen, and more) or a small variety of Asian rice dishes. Their curry crispy chicken with rice is to-die-for. They’ve got a cool interior and seating at the bar. 

If you want something casual and quick, a couple places I’d recommend in neighboring towns are Lordship Corner Market for sandwiches in Stratford or Nordic Fish Market in Fairfield for very fresh sushi or poke bowls.