A new outdoor market will set up shop in German Village later this month. The first edition of the German Village Makers Market is scheduled for Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The market is organized by the owners of (indoor) event rental space Flat 51, Jen Brown and Chelsie Casagrande. Located at the corner of City Park and Thurman Avenues in German Village, their blank slate of a space overlooks one of the few surface parking lots in the area – a lot they found to be strikingly empty on the weekends.
Being in such a thriving neighborhood, the empty space got Brown and Casagrande’s wheels turning. They wanted to bring a new experience to the neighborhood.
“Nothing else like it currently exists,” Brown says. “German Village is such a walkable neighborhood we felt this area was perfect for an outdoor artisan market.”
The location was a big draw. The market is just two blocks from Schiller Park and a host of businesses new and old filling in up and down Thurman Avenue and Jaeger Street.
“We want the Makers Market to be an experience – come out, hang with local makers, listen to some music, have lunch and support local artists, designers and growers while exploring all that German Village has to offer,” Brown says.
The Market is lining up a wide variety of artisans and food trunks to participate in the inaugural event. Over 30 vendors are already signed up, spanning jewelry, edibles, local artists, clothing, candles, personal accessories and more.
“We’re trying to give startups a chance, as well as those more established vendors,” Brown says.
Participants include Simple Time Mixers, LittleTreeNaturals, Cliff Original, Sweet E’s Cookies, Splendor Revival, 419 Candle Co., Stu’s Wood, Smoorepaper and many, many more. The Tasty Good and Fetty’s Street Food will also be on hand to feed shoppers.
“We want to support the makers and shakers in our community and expose them to new and existing customers in a fun and approachable way,” Brown says. “It also gives them to opportunity to reach their social channel followers if they don’t have a traditional brick and mortar shop.”
Attendees can also expect live tunes from Ryan Smith and a pet-friendly event where four-legged friends are welcome (and water bowls are provided).
Brown says so far the response has been phenomenal. Based on the success of the first event, they hope to make the German Village Makers Market a seasonal affair.
For more information, visit flat51.com/gvmm.
Photos provided by Flat51.
