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Customers at the Malamiah Juice Bar in the Downtown Market /Courtesy of the Downtown Market
Downtown Market /Courtesy of the Downtown Market
Starting this week, the Grand Rapids Downtown Market will offer the opportunity for budding food entrepreneurs and artisan makers to set up shop in the Market Hall as daily pop-up vendors.
Designed to promote Michigan entrepreneurship, the Downtown Market pop-up program allows food start-ups the opportunity to test the waters as potential full-time tenants at the Downtown Market, starting with a daily lease. Pop-up opportunities are also available to non-food artisan products made in Michigan.
Following the lead of public markets around the country, such as the North Market in Columbus and Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, the Downtown Market will make the pop-up program available to individuals and small businesses on weekend dates. Applications are currently being accepted for new and start-up businesses offering Michigan-made value-added food products and artisan products as well as Michigan-grown products.
“The Market Hall is an ideal collaborative environment for entrepreneurs to set up shop, even if just for a day,” said Mimi Fritz, president and CEO of the Downtown Market.
“One of the biggest barriers to a new food business is building a base of customers," Fritz said. "Our Pop-Up program encourages established small businesses, or entrepreneurs just starting up, to test the market in a vibrant community of food businesses.”
The Downtown Market is home to 22 small businesses in the Market Hall, as well as 20+ food and beverage startups working out of the Incubator Kitchen. The Market has a full weekend event schedule for the summer and fall months, including established events like the Vintage Street Market mixed with new events for 2016 such as the Michigan-Made Pop-Up Marketplace, Sand Rapids sand festival, Cars and Coffee, and more.
Interested pop-up vendors can learn more and submit an application on the Downtown Market's website.
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