MANAYUNK

Blog post by Manayunk Development Corporation Spring Intern, Meghan Gatti

Renee Pedro and Kiersten Watson met in Manayunk 20 years ago and knew it would be the perfect place for an open air artisan market.  After driving around for months, they decided on the beautiful new Venice Island Recreation Park. The Philly Mart is reminiscent of the eclectic outdoor markets in Europe. With a variety of vendors, expect to find unique pieces such as ceramics, photographs, paintings, jewelry, crafts and more! This Saturday, April 18th from 11am-5pm will be the Spring opening and it runs again once a month in May, June, September and October!

All of the pieces at The Philly Mart are made by the artists themselves--nothing is bought or resold. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so  there is no deadline to apply online. Kiersten and Renee had a vision for The Philly Mart that would set it apart from other open-air markets. They want to make the customer and vendor experience unique and personal. Attendees include many new artists, seasoned vendors and even  collaborations with Main Street retailers and artists.

Renee of The Philly Mart owns her own business and has often travelled around to different art fairs and festivals. She even has her own booth at The Philly Mart. Kiersten sells real estate in Manayunk and became interested in markets after attending many around the area. They knew Venice Island would be the perfect place to call home where artists could gather once a month during the warm months.

Renee and Kiersten love all the artists that attend The Philly Mart. They are constantly amazed by the unique talent, and sometimes even find unique pieces for their own homes. The Philly Mart has something for every style and taste. One artist has beautiful woodwork pieces, and even made his own cabin out of spare pieces of wood. Renee and Kiersten look for unique artists that really stand out. They also want Main Street vendors to be sell their wares at The Philly Mart and gain access to new customers!

Kiersten and Renee needed a location for their vision, and Manayunk was close to home. Renee went to St. Joseph's University, and Kiersten went to Philadelphia University. They came to Manayunk when they were in college, and have both lived and worked in Manayunk. "Neither of us grew up in Manayunk, but we think this is where we are from," says The Philly Mart creators. Their shared vision for The Philly Mart is to bring back the artsy scene to Manayunk, and give vendors the perfect venue to sell their creations.