‘How To Corner the Market’ | New artists' pop-up market focuses on fun, food, and family engagement in the Tri-Cities
Makers Market ATL hosts local monthly pop-ups in the heart of downtown at the East Point Exchange.
EAST POINT, Ga. — ‘Nature abhors a vacuum.’ - Aristotle
It was nothing but live music, munchies, and merriment on the afternoon of Saturday, August 10th as a half dozen or so local (and not so local) vendors converged at the East Point Exchange for the late summer Back To School BBQ & Ice Cream Social Pop-up Artists’ Market.
If you already find yourself resisting the urge to scratch your head in ‘why haven’t I heard about this’ confusion, don’t feel too bad.
These monthly markets produced by Makers Market ATL have only begun popping up here in the Tri-Cities like Brigadoons for Bohemians since the Spring.
Quietly tucked adjacent (kind-of) between the Wagon Works office complex and the Dairy Queen on Norman Berry Dr, at the East Point Exchange at 1513 E. Cleveland Ave.
This overlooked-industrial space seemed like the perfect location for Makers Market ATL to redouble their efforts to create affordable vendor spaces for the DIY arts community to showcase their artwork, goods, and handmade items here in the Tr-Cities as well as the greater SW ATL.
These artist-centric, family-friendly community events were organized and curated by Liz Peña, the event producer for the East Point Exchange as a way to not only support local vendors during the pandemic but also as a means of cultivating an affordable space for the DIY artisan vendors and other fellow crafty-types.
“We all know that Atlanta is changing a lot and that spaces like this are becoming less and less,” affirms Peña.
“It's really hard for any of the DIY or arts community to find a space that's affordable or accessible to people.”
While the Downtown Commons and surrounding real estate in and around the downtown East Point corridor are seemingly getting a lot of attention, the Makers Market ATL seems to be positioned quite nicely for the foreseeable future.
In fact, Makers Market ATL has committed to its cause of enrichment for the Tri-Cities arts community by partnering with the East Point Exchange and the City of East Point.
“Makers Market ATL will provide huge opportunities for East Point’s artists, crafters, and creators to market and sell their products, and for those reasons,” states the East Point Director of the Department of Economic Development, Maceo Rogers in a May press release on the city’s website.
“We’re extremely excited about Makers Market ATL coming to the East Point Exchange in downtown East Point.”
The next Makers Market ATL is scheduled for the afternoon of September, 24th 2022 from 2 pm - 7 pm at 2675 Martin Street, East Point 30344.
List of vendors featured in the Back To School BBQ & Ice Cream Social:
What’s She Creating Ent.
ItsChief LLC
The Tasty Plant-Based Kitchen
When asked by Vox Pop ATL, what continues to drive her passion for being an event producer for Makers Market ATL, Pena had this to say.
“It’s really nice to be able to help the artists and creatives find a space they can go.”
Peña along with her husband, Raul b.k.a the Atlanta-based DJ, Ralo manages the vendors and live music for the monthly markets.
The Peñas are also East Point residents along with their two daughters and fur babies.
For more information about the East Point Exchange and Makers Market ATL, visit their respective websites here.
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