Taking its cue from open-air markets and other eclectic community offerings, the newly formed Akron Bazaar will host its first event, a Night Market, Thursday, Oct. 29, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The market will take place on North Main Street, south of the Peoples Bank, in the same spot as the Thursday Night on the Block series of events.
“Night Markets exist in many cities, but ours definitely has an Akron North Hill International excitement to it,” says Charly Murphy, a member of the North Hill Community Leaders and the owner of the Stray Dog Cart mobile food business. “The Cleveland Night Market has been inspirational and helpful as we were considering bringing this to Akron.”
The Akron Bazaar is the result of the North Hill Community Leaders and organizers of the popular Better Block event this past May. “Our desire is to be the place that a new business gains some experience, and customers can discover their new favorite vendors,” Murphy adds.
He says this market is an especially important opportunity for refugee and other international food business startups. “We are working on a program to help food vendors get their first beginnings while partnering with Stray Dog, Akron’s premier mobile food group- who will mentor and loan equipment to those who want to try their product out. We are also going to be partnering with microbreweries in the spring to further enhance the atmosphere of the bazaar.”
Although the Akron Bazaar Night Market concept came together recently, Murphy admits the group wanted to launch this concept before the weather got too cold rather than wait until next spring.
“This is a risky venture,” he adds. “The weather and the season and the many other events going on all are working against the success of this market. We are very confident in the concept, and didn’t want to put off our first event until next year, so, we are working hard against the odds to make it an amazing first experience, a gateway into changing the way Akron sees shopping locally.”
Event organizers are still accepting vendors. Visit Akronbazaar.com to register.
