Bloomingdale Maker's Market keeps growing
A Bloomingdale woman's initiative to help small businesses during the pandemic has grown into a free monthly event that draws dozens of vendors and hundreds of visitors.
The Maker's Market's next date is July 25 at the Old Town parking lot at Schick Road and 3rd Street, where it moved after outgrowing the parking lot of Delish Cakes. Admission is free.
Delish Cakes owner Alicia Eisenmann created the market last year because she wanted to help her friends and community members who own small businesses find a way to safely sell products they created amid the pandemic.
Eisenmann's first market last September drew roughly 18 vendors. Vendors and interest increased, and she worked with Village President Franco Coladipietro and other local officials to move to the current site and make the Maker's Market an official Bloomingdale event.
The market hosts businesses and products ranging from food trucks to bath and body care, plants, homemade coffee blends and clothing.
In June, there were more than 61 vendors with roughly 400 attendees.
"I had no idea it was going to be this big," Eisenmann said. "I've even had to turn people away because we have too many vendors for the month."
Coladipietro gives all the credit to Eisenmann for her work in establishing the market and vendors, saying he felt invested in helping her because of her passion for Bloomingdale.
"She has been an inspirational small business owner during the pandemic trying to help others," Coladipietro said. "It's easy to support people who have genuine good in their hearts to help others."
As a born and raised Bloomingdale native, Eisenmann said she's happy to do something special for the community and have a place where business owners and makers can sell their products.
"It feels pretty cool to be part of the community and giving a safe space to support businesses," Eisenmann said. "It's going to be a yearly Bloomingdale staple now."
The market is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and usually is held the final Sunday of the month. After July 25, dates are Aug. 29, Sept. 26, Oct. 31, Nov. 28 and Dec. 12.