Outdoor Artisan Market Proposed for Takoma Junction

The group that holds the outdoor artisans market in Silver Spring submitted a proposal to the City of Takoma Park asking to hold an artisans’ market at the city lot located at Takoma Junction.

Hannah McCann, the director of the Fenton Street Market, which is now being held at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, said she submitted a proposal to hold an outdoor market at the Takoma Junction on several Sundays this year to test the location and the viability of a market there.

The market would include between 40 and 60 vendors, and if it is a success, “I think it could be a fantastic location for a market,” said McCann, who added she believes the market could do well in Takoma Park because “it’s a community rich in artisans and crafters,” and a market at the Takoma Junction would provide those artisans “an opportunity to share with their neighbors what they do.”

In addition to support from the community, there are ways the city government can help the endeavor prosper if it is approved, according to McCann. A shuttle to ferry people between the arts/crafts/antiques market in Silver Spring and the Takoma Junction market would definitely help.

“Another idea I proposed is the use of pedicabs, maybe that’s something the bike shops in Takoma Park can get on board with,” McCann said.

Members of the Takoma Junction Task Force agree that support from the community is needed during a test of an artisans’ market at the Junction.

“A coordinated effort is needed to make this work, or it will be a failed experiment,” she said.

However, the Task Force wants details on “who pays what,” in connection with the operation of an artisans’ market.

Nonetheless, the reason to have the market is to attract people to the junction area, according to the task force.

“The issue is about trying to build more traffic in that area,” said Steve Dubb, task force member.

Attracting people to the junction area is what the market has to offer, McCann said.

“A market is truly a cooperative effort, and every exhibitor is a business person, and every exhibitor brings their customer base with them," she said. "If the [artisan] community came out to exhibit, they would draw out their friends and associates, it would really be an event.”