The flea market features artists, jewelry makers and food vendors and attracts newcomers to Trenton.
TRENTON - Trenton's historic Roebling Wire Works building lies dormant most days.
The three-tiered red brick and turquoise glass structure can be found resting along South Clinton Avenue where it serves as a silent reminder of the capital city's manufacturing prowess.
But today is not most days. Today is the second day of the weekend-long Punk Rock Flea Market.
Three weekends a year, the event breathes new life into the building.
New types of manufacturers -- artists, jewelers, clothiers, artisan food vendors and more -- line the walls of the 52,000 square foot structure.
Outside, bands and food trucks stand ready to ensure visitors are entertained and well-fed.
In the past, more than 400 vendors and 20 food trucks have shown up over the course of the weekend since the market became a two-day event in March of this year.
The event does more than just resuscitate the machine shop -- it pumps newcomers into the city of Trenton.
Punk Rock Flea Market draws thousands
Thousands of eclectically dressed millennials, aging 80's punk rockers and even alternative-clad baby boomers flow through the building and the city streets this weekend.
For some of them the market is the only reason they come to the city.
Kat Maglione, 23, of Woodbridge Township says that aside from a 'pork roll' festival -- not a 'Taylor Ham' festival -- the market is the only reason she comes to the city.
She's been here four or five times since the event started taking place in January 2013.
Since then the market has grown from a one-day event to two-day event and it now occurs three times a year, up from twice annually.
11 cool things at the Punk Rock Flea Market
"They need to be having this as much as possible," Tom Moscinski, 21, of Matawan said.
Moscinski says that this is his third market visit and the only reason he visits the city since the Trenton Titans, a minor league hockey team, left the same year the market began being held.
Maglione and Moscinski agree that the market even has made them interested in seeing what else the city can put together -- especially Art All Night.
Art All Night is another city festival where local artists, musicians and food vendors meet at the Roebling Wire Works for 24 hours of art.
As Trenton looks to capitalize on successful revitalization projects similar to areas such as the Bronx or Philadelphia, the market and other artistic ventures that can draw huge crowds of new faces will be integral to the capital city's resuscitation.
Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.