Local Mini Market is more compact, enjoyable event

Atlanta’s popular Makers’ Market concept of a half-day, five-hour bring-the-shoppers-downtown shopping event turned into a smaller Local Mini Market Saturday, March 13.

The weather was a bit cold, but still some 24 vendors turned out to transform the two-block parking and walking areas which are caboose park and parking for Luigi’s Italian Restaurant into a walking, shopping and visiting venue.

“All to promote business and community,” said Jill Crocker, president of the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce.

“People had fun,” she continued and then added, “Five of the vendors said that they sold out of everything they had brought to show.”

“The size and place was a little more manageable,” said the chamber’s event coordinator Tori Demby. “It’s all about coming to a downtown event where you can slow down, relax and go in and visit with the merchants.”

“The makers market and now our local mini market are some of our biggest and best events,” Crocker said. “It takes a lot of work, and one Christmas we had 98 vendors. So this local mini-market was a bit more flexible. And we continue to have a wide variety of vendors and products to show. It’s just fun.”

On the schedule for coming events there will be a spring Maker’s Market April 6 and a fall Maker’s Market Oct. 5 before the Christmas market extravaganza Dec. 14.

Also scheduled to come for 2024 are the Holiday Open House Nov. 10, the annual 5K run Nov. 23 and the Christmas parade Dec. 7.

Here are a few scenes from the recent Local Mini Market.