Cyndi Loza

Underneath hanging bookbags, MP3 speakers and soccer balls, Reno resident Roberto Figueroa waited patiently for his next sale on a Sunday afternoon at El Rancho Swap Meet & Flea Market.

Some perused, but few purchased from his tent stocked with items including car stereos and suitcases.

“This flea market has always been, well for me, a place someone comes to earn a bit of money,” Figueroa said in Spanish. “Don’t think we earn a lot in this time because of the country’s (economic) situation… but it’s something to pay the rent.”

Figueroa, 57, of Reno, has worked part-time at the market on 555 El Rancho Drive in Sparks for more than 22 years. Fellow vendors call him “El Güero,” Spanish for “white person, ” because of his blue eyes and light complexion.

“They consider me their ‘leader’ here,” said Figueroa, who pushed for food vendors and live music in the market.

The market is a home away from home for some like Roberto Aguirre, 26, of Truckee.

“You come here to distract yourself from the home,” Aguirre said. “We go to other stores, but here you find things that are Mexican and … you feel like you’re with family because of all the Mexicans.”

Luis, 48, of Reno said he uses the flea market as a way to earn an honest dollar. “Sometimes we (immigrants) are treated badly … because we don’t speak English or, sometimes, because we just don’t know how to defend ourselves,” said Luis in Spanish.

“I don’t have documents, but I know that I came here (the United States) to work and I’ve never had problems with the law or consumed drugs or sold drugs or anything. Simply, the little I make I earn honestly and always to help my family.”