Asheville Women Entrepreneurs Collaborate to Create 'Asheville Street Markets'

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by Jodi Rhoden
on Monday, June 08, 2009

In the spirit of community, local economy, and sustainability, the organizers of five different Asheville craft and street markets have banded together to support and promote one another's endeavors. The newly formed "Asheville Street Markets" includes Rosetta Star, owner of Rosetta's Kitchen and founder of Asheville People's Market; Jodi Rhoden, owner of Short Street Cakes in East-West Asheville and founder of the Howard Street Handmade series of craft markets and events; Lori Theriault, owner of Crazy Green Studios and founder of the East-West Asheville 2nd Saturday Arts Market; Alexandra Brown, founder of the newly formed Lexington Bazaar, and Justin Raebuck and Brandy Bourne, organizers of Asheville's semi-yearly craft blowout, The Big Crafty, downtown at Pack Place.

Each of the five markets are unique: The People's Market, which starts this Sunday, June 7, is part-rummage sale part-handmade market, Howard Street Handmade is a monthly neighborhood destination in East/West Asheville featuring affordable and accessible art from new and emerging artists, Lexington Bazaar is a festive, eclectic downtown market, and 2nd Saturday, also in East/West Asheville, features fine ceramics, arts, and gifts. The Big Crafty is all that rolled into one crazy day (July 12).

The five markets' organizers see their work as being interrelated. We want Asheville to be a forerunner in the Handmade and Street Markets movements. We think we can support one another in creating a walkable market culture here in our city, and we want to work together to serve as a resource for folks to find out about alternatives to big box stores for their needs. With the success of the farmers' tailgate markets, and the growing awareness of local food, we would like to take the next step to remind people that they can affordably and sustainably access locally-produced goods, directly from the producer. Asheville Street Markets have created a blog, flyer, and rack card promoting all of the different markets in one place.

More information can be found at www.ashevillestreetmarkets.blogspot.com.

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About the Author - Jodi Rhoden

Contact Jodi Rhoden:
Short Street Cakes
(828) 505-4822
jodi@shortstreetcakes.com
www.shortstreetcakes.blogspot.com

Learn more about Jodi.