Market Day started as a Downtown Duluth Pop Up Shop in 2016, and moved into a twisty, multi-level space at 15 N. Third Ave. W. last spring. It’s filled with a variety of local art, crafts and workspace for classes. Director Lanae Rhoads tells us about some of the activities going on in the space.

LR: We are a shop that desires to celebrate the Farmer’s Market vibe all year long. In fact, we started as a Farmers Market at UMD in 1999. The University decided to make Market 2016 the last season. With that decision we needed to find other ways to showcase our local artisans. And through that loss Market Day was born. We received one of the holiday 2016 Pop-Up shop program spaces. It was a wonderful success and we decided to continue together in a permanent location that opened this past March.

A view inside

The amazing space we found on Third Avenue West gives us room not only to highlight our art in a retail space, but it also offers a large workroom where we teach classes. That will be our focus in the coming year. We offer classes on making soap, lotion, makeup, bath bombs, wire wrapping, candle making, cooking and any other skill that we can find the artist to share the knowledge. The classes are the really fun part. I love the community that is built around learning a new skill and sharing my skill as an artisan with others. Especially in the chilly weather when your toes are froze and you need to come inside for a little while.

The front of the shop

As the director of Market Day I also had the benefit of moving my home-based business into the workshop. I have been making organic body care products like soap, lotion and makeup in my basement for 12 years. I can’t tell you how excited my family was to have me move into my own space. They filled that basement with their own hobbies faster than I could get myself into my new space. But ahhhh the legroom I have now! And I love making my products in a space where people can “snoop.” I’m always making something in the back no matter what is going on in the front of the shop. Whether it is lotion, honey mask or mascara all you have to do is ask and I am happy to give you a tour of my “lab.”

Making Lotion at a Class in the Workshop

In the summer we host local farmers, bakers and growers in our shop as well as offering a CSA on Thursdays. So our hope is that you will take the opportunity to explore the organic produce available each day of our growing season through the many farm markets that are available. We like ours because even if it’s rainy outside you can enjoy the farmers market experience and get your veggies!

Making a honey mask

Our space is a fun warren of rooms and spaces to explore and discover. We have so much space here that we can’t even fill it with all our artisans. Starting in February we are going to have a massage therapist open her studio here in our basement. I’m looking forward to the partnership and seeing her business grow and blossom. It feels like the more we partner together the better we can become.

Lisa is making jewelry in the workshop

Links:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Class Link
Class List

Our Farmer’s Market — I promise she is happy to be there