The Downtown Market, located at 435 Ionia SW, is open for business! Its nineteen vendors will dazzle your senses and please your palate. The Market’s centralized locale and free ninety minute parking make it easily accessible to those living in the greater Grand Rapids area. Market Hall, the indoor portion of the Downtown Market, is open Monday – Saturday from 9:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. The Outdoor Market is open Tuesday and Saturday from 9:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m. Hours for individual vendors may vary.
At the Inside Market Hall you will find a modern, open space, but the passion and preparation shining from each vendor is classic. These are coffee rosters, bakers, butchers and florists who have honed their craft over the years. The goods and services they provide are unique and truly artisan.
The Market’s vendors are friendly and knowledgeable. Kate Leeder, co-owner of Aperitivo, encourages shoppers to ask questions. She is happy to share her vast knowledge of cheese, charcuterie (prepared meat products) and wine with customers to help them find the best food and spirits for their taste. Aperitivo also hosts cheese classes and small group wine tasting events.
Enjoy the experience of watching your crepe being created at Penelope’s Creperie, owned by Andreas and Nicole Papangelopoulos. The mouth-watering menu includes “Sweet Crepes”, which have contents such as fruit, Nutella and crème cheese. Or try a “Savory Crepe” containing ingredients like pepperoni, sausage, grilled chicken, cheeses and olives. This husband and wife team brought the European tradition of enjoying the eating experience all the way from Athens Greece where they owned a creperie for over five years. And if you are wondering about the name, it comes from their daughter, Penelope. 
Making Thyme Kitchen combines fresh, local ingredients into amazing dinners to go. With increasingly demanding schedules for families, dinner can be stressful and rushed. Making Thyme makes dinnertime easy with meals that are oven-ready. Pair any meal with the ready to eat side dishes – everyone is happy.
Field & Fire is creating baked goods that are as gorgeous as they are delicious. ‘Work of Art’ comes to mind when you take in their offerings. Matt Elliot, Retail Manager, explained that a lot of hard work goes into all of the products. One bite of the ham and cheese croissant will prove that hard work does pay.
In addition to its culinary delights, the Market offers yoga, camps, “Brunch Bites and Bloody Marys” and a variety of cooking classes such as Fresh, Fast & Fabulous: Dishes Under 30 Minutes, Gluten Free Gourmet, Mediterranean Meals, Meatless Main Dishes and Canning Basics. Follow this link for a full July calendar, http://downtownmarketgr.com/classes-programs.
On July 13 the Market will host a Vintage Street Market from 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. Pack a summer’s worth of treasure hunting into one day! Over fifty two vendors were carefully selected, so whether you are looking for that perfect vintage dish or a retro Schwinn, come peruse the booths for treasures. A list of vendors is available at http://www.vintagestreetmarketgr.com/2014-vendors/
Additional information is available at http://downtownmarketgr.com/ or follow the Downtown Market on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DowntownMarket.
Photo Credit: Macy Albaitis.
