Thompson Falls Market opens up

Baked goods, fresh eggs, crafts, artwork, quilts to kayak tours, the Thompson Falls Market had a bit of everything last Saturday.

The day marked the grand opening for the market that will be held from 10 to 2 each Saturday from now until September 13. Katrina Wright, the coordinator for the event, was pleased with the opening day. “The events been really great there’s been seriously positive feedback in the community,” Wright said.

She was also pleased with the high turnout of local shoppers and said that more than a hundred people had already stopped by to see the market by noon that day. While there were only six booths signed up to participate in the event, Wright says that the market will definitely be growing and that the lot where it’s hosted has the potential to have up to 60 vendors.

“We’re still looking for venders and people who want to participate and I really hope people make the market in Thompson falls something they plan on doing every Saturday,” Wright said.

The idea for the Thompson Falls Market came from both Wright and community support. Wright said that after the idea was suggested, there were so many people who wanted to support it that the momentum from the community opened door for the event.

“I’m very impressed, very pleased and very encouraged to see the great turn out today,” Sissel Robertson said of the Crazy Woman Kayaks Booth.

“The market’s a new venture and I just want to be supportive of anything that’s good for the community and I thought it would be a good day to get the word out about my new business,” Robertson said, who will be opening her Kayak rental business July 5.

Melinda Via, a local artist was selling her original designed quilted wall pieces, like the inclusiveness of the market. “I think it’s a wonderful idea that it’s called Thompson Falls Market because anybody can participate in it, it’s a wonderful venue for growers, crafters and artisans in the area,” Via said.

Next to Via’s booth was Tara Johnson who was selling her lettuce, radishes, berries, peas, and spinach. Johnson, like the other venders was content with sales, “I sold quite a bit of stuff today I was surprised I did really well,” Johnson said and also said that she looked forward to bartering and trading with the other vendors.

Yet if there was one vendor out of the six that was well noticed it was Ella Habegger who was selling her own home baked goods. “She’s really been the highlight of day today,” Johnson said and pointed to the fact that she had sold out of almost all of her baked goods by midday.

“I just enjoy baking,” Habegger said when asked about here success. “I grew up in a bakery we had a bakery when I was still living at home so all of my life I’ve been baking,” she said and added that she also liked baking because her four children might be able to participate in it when they get older. “I really like it, it’s something you can do as a family,” Habegger said.

Lehua Milliken, a Thompson Falls local who decided to stop by to see the booths, said she liked the different variety of things in the market and was eager to see it grow. “I’d like to definitely support it because of the local economy and to help out the local gardeners and craftspeople,” Milliken said.

But in the end, the consensus among the venders was that the event was simply a great way to interact with others. Dot De Volder who was selling her glass etchings, bracelets and necklaces said that she felt community interaction was a key part of the market. “I like talking with the people, I like to just chit-chat with them and see all different kinds of people and I enjoy the compliments I get on my work,” De Volder said.

Michael Parker, who was selling her hand painted life-like baby dolls and jewelry said she could see the market growing throughout the summer and wanted to be a part of that growth. “We’ll be back every Saturday,” Parker said “Were here for the duration.”