SidewalkSale - Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions About 1st & 3rd Saturday
Who started the sale on 1st Saturday?
The SideWalk Sale began as a get-together of ham radio enthusiasts in 1969 meeting on the 1st Saturday of every month on Haskell Street by the Wholesale Electronics company. The idea was conceived by Walt Jackson, a principal then in the Wholesale Electronics, as a means to generate trade in the used ham radio market. Wholesale Electronics was the premier dealer in ham radio equipment in those days, so, if the hams wanted to buy new equipment, Wholesale Electronics was also open on 1st Saturday to serve that need. When Wholesale Electronics moved to to its present location at Ross Avenue and Central Expressway in 1974, the monthly swap meet naturally moved with it.
With the advent of PCs in the early 80s, the focus of the SideWalk Sale has grown and changed to mostly computers and software. Not to forget, though, all kinds of other treasured electronic apparati can be found there also. And, there is still a core group of ham radio enthusiasts that frequent the sale and deal in radios and related equipment.
Although he may shift credit to others, the real shepherd of the 1st Saturday Sale has been former Dallas City Councilman and Texas State Senator John Leedom. John is the last active member of the team that founded Wholesale Electronics and, over the years, he has been a strong advocate when dealing with local landowners and bureaucrats who have taken exception to a bunch of electronics weenies operating a bazaar on the streets of downtown Dallas. The event might not be the success it is today with out the guiding hand and support of Senator Leedom.
Who runs the sale now?
In May, 2005 the SideWalk Sale and First Saturday Corporation joined forces in order to move the sale to the West End. The operators manage the lot and provide essential services but the sale is a public domain institution.
Why is the sale referred to as being held "under the bridge"?
In the 70s and 80s, most vendors set up under the Woodall Rogers Freeway elevated roadway between Routh Street and Central Expressway and in the field on the north side of Wholesale Electronics. As downtown Dallas developed, property owners fenced off the field and the city/state edicted the space under the bridge to be off-limits thus forcing the vendors to migrate to the present locations along Ross Avenue. Most old-timers acknowledge the sale was more fun when it was less commercialized under the bridge.
Why do people shop at night?
In the old days, under the bridge, vendors did not have to pay for parking and the prime locations were first-come-first-serve. Thus, vendors began setting up earlier and earlier on Saturday morning and then on Friday night to secure the primo locations. Since the best bargains can sometimes be found when the vendor unloads, shoppers began arriving earlier and the trend continues until today. Some vendors sell out and leave by midnight on Friday.
What happens when the 1st Saturday falls on a holiday?
The sale goes on. Rain or shine, hot or cold, twelve days a year there will be vendors and shoppers at the sale on First Saturday. 4th of July, New Year's day... no le' hace. And, yes...we were there for the Millenium event on Saturday, January 1, 2000!
Where's the restrooms.
Port-o-lets are located at the east end of the vendor area under the Woodall Rogers bridge where vendors set up. Prime indoor restrooms can be found at Hooters and the restaurants and hotels in the West End. There are area Handicap Port-o-let reserved for women and handicapped persons.