Kamm’s Corners, a neighborhood in the West Park area of Cleveland, is home to more than 20,000 people. The community is known for its frequent events, including parades, festivals and farmers’ markets. With the holidays approaching, a Christmas market pop-up was held Saturday, Dec. 13, at St. Mel’s Parish hall. The event featured about 15 vendors selling a variety of handcrafted items.
Upon entering, visitors were greeted by a group of volunteers. Each attendee received a raffle ticket to vote for their favorite vendor. The booths offered a diverse selection, from baked goods to handmade metal paintings, each representing a unique small business.
Kamm’s Corners and the greater West Park area are known for being community-oriented. These events provide a personal, local feel that larger retail experiences lack. Many vendors shared stories of how working different events helped them meet people who eventually became regular customers.
The market was fully immersed in the holiday theme, decorated with lights and filled with seasonal music. The atmosphere was designed to foster holiday spirit, complete with an appearance by Santa for photos and community visits. The turnout remained steady from opening to closing as customers arrived to shop and support local makers.
Every item at the market was homemade, the result of weeks of preparation by the vendors. This personal touch often makes customers more eager to support the sellers, as it reflects the hard work put into their crafts.
Lisa Pullman, owner of Phoam Naturals, has been working events in the greater Cleveland area for 12 years. “I’m an avid hiker, and my dog and I were constantly getting bitten by bugs. None of the chemicals I was using was working, so I decided to make my own,” Pullman said. Her business focuses on plant-based soaps, skin products and bug spray.
A booth that drew constant crowds was Fortune’s Cookies. What started as a small stand has grown into two brick-and-mortar storefronts in Northeast Ohio. Owner Beverly “Fortune” Bolton and her husband make all the cookies the night before an event, a process that takes roughly eight hours of prepping, baking and packaging. Because she was working two shows on Saturday, she doubled the batch, spending more than 10 hours making the cookies from scratch.
Bolton said, “Our focus as a brand is to cater to the people who have different dietary needs than other people. We make gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan cookies. Our rule here is that they have to taste good for the people who don’t need them, so they are good enough for the people who do.”
Rachel Matthews, owner of Breadheads, has participated in local events since 2014, offering a seasonal menu of breads, pretzel breads and “toaster strudels.”
“We go to every kind of event, from markets to catering, and it’s all good for our brand exposure. We want to provide people with a taste of their grandma’s kitchen because we try to make our breads with as much love as possible,” Matthews said.
Every vendor was appreciative of the support that their local business received. As the holiday season continues, the market and these makers remind us that every purchase at a local stand not only helps their businesses but the community as a whole.
