by cindy w.

The Swap Shop is a local landmark of Broward County. Be prepared to be mesmerized by the spectacle of people, kitsch, tackiness, and merchandise that are on display--too bad that the indoor carnival no longer performs here anymore, you used to be able to see elephants and trapeze artists too. Ah, wacky South Florida...Anyway kiddies, you can find at the Swap Shop bargain fares! There's a produce section, fresh flowers (good deals here), and your local variety of touristy byproducts (cheap cotton tshirts, beach towels, plastic toys, bundled cotton socks) etc. Aside from tourists, locals can nab bargain priced luggage, perfumes, bags, sneakers, electronics, jewelry of sorts. Part of it is indoors and outdoors.  On the far out-door side, you can see the "garage-sale" element where folks drag their eclectic wares to sell on sheets by their cars (old LPs, vintage dishware, retro furniture, old clothes, etc). In the indoor-part, you're likely to find services such as watch-repair, cellphone kiosks, photography/engraving stores, etc. You can even get a fake gold grill here! They also have a decent food court  here if you don't mind the "grubby" environment, in fact, I relish that hole in the wall quality to it. This isn't a fancy gourmet famer's market meets antique fair. It's a cheap, gritty, hot "one-of-a-kind" place in South Florida where you can hear multiple differenet languages (English-French-Spanish-Creole-Chinese-Vietnamese) , sample ethnic street food (mexican sausage hot dogs? roasted corn on a cob?), do "some" haggling in some parts. The people who go here are real, working class folks, a real slice of what actual South Florida can be like, unairbrushed. Sometimes that ain't always pretty (if you wanted that go to Sawgrass Mills) but it sure ain't boring, heck its great people-watching.The Swap Shop also has the only outdoor drive-in movie theater.

by Jammie P.

this is place is bomb for sure! drive-in movies? oh yeaa you better believe it!!! wanna know something else? their concession stand basically delivers! LOL! lemme explain this one. little golf carts drive around each screen offering drinks snacks! lovely! just when you think that tops it off....during the day time, they have...well a swap shop lol! you can get fresh produce...handbags...shirts...basically anything you can think of! shoes? yes! jewelry? yuuuup! i said ANYTHING! :) almost all items at the swap shop are brand new but you do have a few stands, usually located outside, that are yard sale type items. that's cool too :) one man's trash is another man's treasure right? ohhh and i'm not sure if they still offer this but they use to have an indoor little circus thing! it was awesome! elephants, dogs doing tricks, etc...loved it!tips? + you should go early....parking is INSANE. this place isn't packed for no reason ya know?+ dress right...dude it's south florida and you'll be walking indoors and outdoors :P+ cash is always good....bring enough :) and enjoy yourself!

by GINA H.

A great place to while away one of the cooler Saturday or Sunday morning/afternoons and truly a piece of South Florida History (young as it is)  Wear walking shoes.  The outside flea market is a veritable treasure chest.  You just don't know what you are going to find from one end of the lot to the other. Be prepared to haggle. Inside (in the a/c) is a mish-mash of stores and food stands.  Outside (along Sunrise Blvd.) is where they have a fun-fair for the kids (and the young at heart) and also a great farmers market .....note to the fussy and faint at heart....you are not going to find Whole Foods type 'polished' fruit and veggies here.  Lots and lots of parking but when its very busy, expect to walk as much as you would in a football/baseball stadium type setup.Evening time, this place transforms to a drive in movie theatre and we just love it.  Again when the weather cools down we grab a bucket of KFC and some sodas and lay back with the back door of the car open and watch the latest movies for much much less than the theatre.A little bit of their history from their website....The Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop was started by Betty and Preston Henn in November, 1963. At that time it was known as the Thunderbird Drive-In Movie Theater and featured one screen and no flea market! The opening night turned out to be a bad choice of dates - President John Kennedy was shot and killed that same day. However, in spite of an inauspicious start, the drive-in grew in both popularity and size.In 1966, Mr. Henn began utilizing the property as a weekend flea market. This was an innovation which Preston had first seen in California. However, it was the first time the concept had been tried on the East Coast. This allowed many small business owners to get their start - some going on to become entrepreneurs in their own right.Preston continued innovating when he brought in local entertainers to perform in the food court. In 1989, after constructing a stage, he started having regular concerts, featuring name acts from both the country and western arena and well known 60's and 70's performers. Everyone from Willy Nelson to KC And The Sunshine Band - Lorretta Lynn to Three Dog Night - all played on the Swap Shop stage, provided free of charge by the Henn Family - much to the chagrin of other local venues. They even hired a circus to provide daily performances. A carnival, video game arcade, and Dancing Waters show were added to complete the fun. The Swap Shop stage was featured on the Country and Western cable TV network for a whole series of live broadcasts that culminated with Willie Nelson.The Swap Shop was featured on a PBS special, "A Fleamarket Documentary"  in 2002, and has been seen all over the world on numerous travelogue series shown on every major television market around the world.The Swap Shop is the most unique shopping experience anywhere, and has become a landmark business in South Florida. The Swap Shop is the second largest South Florida attraction with visitors from not only the United States and Canada but many foreign countries as well! It's not a surprise that in 1990 alone more than 12 million people visited the now world famous SWAP SHOP.

by joseluis a.

i cant find the words to describe my experience at the swap shop. i guess you just have to come see for yourself. corina talks about the culture shock. i think its true. the swap shop is like a strange melting pot. as far as the merchandise youll find there... well,  i was kinda looking for antique furniture but did not find anything i like... theres a taco truck right by the fruit/vegetable market that looks like the right place to get awesome tacos, but i cant reconfirm this as i didnt eat there.parking is 2$ north side of sunrise blvd and 1$ on the south side. ive been to the movies at the drive in before, its pretty chill. 5$ but it is kinda far for us miami people.

by Melissa V.

The only reason for me to be here is the drive-in's. I've shopped here for shades (when I needed them), a green wifebeater with writing on it, head wraps (for my sister), and other cool cheap items. The only thing that pissed me off was when one guy was ripping me off for a hookah. No way I'd pay for that one for over $40 and plus it was missing a part. I thought of selling something over here, but I'm still thinking if I should go for it or not. I think I can wait till I have more time. Plus, I'd need company! ;)

by Corina B.

I am not from Florida so the culture shock scared me. I went the first time I moved down and vowed never to return. But since I've been here 4 years, and I've come to understand certain things, I might be able to stomach it. If you can get over the ghetto vibe, you could have a good time and find some bargains.

by Jaye V.

I went back for a return visit last Sunday and noticed something I hadn't before.  If you go past the rides, there is yet another produce area...and a couple of Mexican "cafes" set up with music!  One of them, closer to the rides, caters more to the guys who are there to drink and listen to a guy with a good emcee voice sing Mexican tunes.  They also had a book which I believe allowed people to sing Mexican karaoke.The cafe further away was more family-oriented, and the food was fish (whole red snapper $15) and ceviches.  And there was a full mariachi band!  Totally awesome; I felt like I was in Guadalajara!  I'd upload the videos if I could.  Lots of beer was served at both.  The customers at both were 100% Mexican.  It's too bad I didn't see this before (or is it a new addition?) because I would have tried eaten brunch at the mariachi cevicheria!  I'll write an update of the food when I do.Beyond this area, near the fence, there's a comprehensive assortment of lush tropical plants.  I assume they are for sale but I didn't see by whom. I finally got around to visiting the Swap Shop and had a great time.  It was like being in a Central…

by Talisha M.

SCARY! I like flea markets and looking for a good bargain but this place is just nasty! The sell the most random garage seriously they really do sell trash. The only good thing might have been the food out back but I didn't try it but there were sure a lot of men eating the mexican food. Guys might enjoy going to see their car museum which has many sports cars to see. And don't go to the drive -n there unless you are going to lock yourself in your car with tinted windows and you have a weapon. And totally out of the question to go to the bathroom b/c you might not make it back!!

by Deven C.

This is the type of place I tend to stay away from.  And truth be told, I've never been here in the daylight.I come here at night for the classic drive-up movies.  The whole swap shop closes down at night to make way for the 13 screens showing CURRENT box office movies.  And at $6 a head, you can't beat it.  Plus you can bring your own food and furry animal (if you hide her/him/it when driving in).Great place for a date or a group of friends to spend a low-key evening.

by Nydia C.

Do you have a bunch of stuff you never use and are dying to get rid of it but the thought of giving it away makes you cringe? Well, that's what the Swap Shop flea market is for! I am in the process of getting ready to move and have a bunch of things that are not going to make it with me during this next move so I decided to try my luck at the Swap Shop. The first time I went was a couple of weeks ago. I went on a Sunday and I got there around 9:30 which is kinda late by flea market standards. It was $25 to rent a space (tables are an additional $4) but had I gotten there by 5:30 am it would've only cost me $10 ($5 on Saturdays). I didn't care, I was ready to sell, sell, sell! I actually got rid of a bunch of stuff that first day which was pretty exciting but I was still left with a lot so I went back yesterday, this time before 5:30! ;) Yes, some of the people there can be kinda creepy, but what do you expect? It's a flea market people! It's like looking for a millionaire at the Salvation Army. Not gonna happen! ;) Anyway, I guess I am used to it because I grew up going to flea markets with my family and having garage sales whenever we needed to get rid of stuff so I know this kind of thing brings out "interesting" people to say the least. But not everyone is like that. Some people are just there looking for hidden treasures. I think the one things that frustrates me the most is when people want everything practically for free. My prices were great for the quality of stuff I was selling (I even had a return customer sporting the watch I had sold him!) but people still tried to get me to lower the price. I recommend that if you decide to sell here you only bring things that you can't sell on ebay, In other words, don't expect to get rich at the Swap Shop!