Takoma Park to Get Own 'Fenton Street' Market

Takoma Park residents can shop at a new outdoor market in their own neighborhood starting May 12.

Fenton Street Market has paired up with Old Takoma Business Association to bring about the Grant Avenue Market—a market that will feature the same winning combination of vendor booths, music and food—and will be available May 12, June 9, and July 14 from 10 am to 3 pm. 

“Takoma Park has a long history of successful, well-attended outdoor street festivals and markets like the Takoma Park Farmers Market and the Takoma Park Street Festival. While the winning formula is the same, this market will offer a whole new mix of items that are not available at the other markets,” said Laura Barclay, co-executive director of the Old Takoma Business Association.

Fenton Street Market began in fall of 2009 in an empty parking lot at the corner of Silver Spring Avenue and Fenton Street, according to its website. It now resides on Veteran’s Plaza and is open Saturdays from May to October.

Locally owned businesses sell crafts, antiques, and imported goods, among other things, while benefiting from reasonable booth rentals and free Internet exposure and marketing. Some of the vendors at the Fenton Street Market include: Craftgasm, Bhavna’s Henna & Arts and Regina’s Used Books. 

Much like the Fenton Street Market, the Grant Avenue Market will feature vendors that will be selling antiques, like furniture and household items, as well as vintage items such as jewelry, records and books.

Representatives of Fenton Street Market and Old Takoma Business Association say they hope the event will increase Takoma residents’ support for local businesses and provide a space for residents to interact with one another.

“We are reviewing and accepting applications now and will publish our vendor list a few weeks prior to the first market on May 12…The majority of our prospective vendors are from nearby Takoma Park-Silver Spring-DC neighborhoods, including a few brick and mortar stores in DC. Vendors are excited to be a part of this antique-vintage only event, which is rare these days,” said Megan Moriarty, market manager for Fenton Street Market.

One vendor already chosen is a DC area favorite--Ruff and Ready Furnishings--which will be bringing its “unique junque” to the market, according to a press release from the Old Takoma Business Association.

Barclay said the Old Takoma Park Business Association chose to work with the Fenton Street Market because of its expertise and name recognition, as most people associate the Fenton Street Market with “a fun, high quality event.”

The Grant Avenue Market will be held on Sundays, which Moriarty hopes will encourage residents to stop by after shopping at the nearby Farmers Market.