Night Market attendees shop and stroll around North Market on Sept. 21, 2018. Credit: Isabel Hall | Lantern Reporter
Despite getting off to a rainy start, Night Market at North Market gave Columbus residents a way to say farewell to the summer with food, drinks, shopping and music.
Last Friday, North Market held its third and final Night Market of the year. Night Market, which started this summer, offered a chance for Columbus residents to visit North Market past normal business hours and enjoy independent vendors, food trucks, games and live music.
Night Market was inspired by traditional outdoor markets in Europe and Asia and aimed to provide a fun, carnival-like experience, said Meghan Brouillette, director of communications for North Market Development Authority.
“We receive several requests from the public to stay open later in the summer. For our small businesses that operate full time within the market, it is too much of a burden to remain open much later every day for an entire season,” Brouillette said in an email. “The Night Market allows us to compromise and stay open late once per month.”
Due to the success and popularity of Night Market, Brouillette said North Market is already making plans to hold Night Markets again in 2019.
Madison Ruehl, a worker for independent vendor American Nut Company, said she liked how Night Market allowed people to visit North Market when they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s definitely helpful for people who are very busy during the week,” Ruehl said. “The late hours are much better for people who work full time, and they have access to all of it when they don’t during normal hours.”
Food trucks and vendors attending Night Market included Penny’s Meat Cookout, selling bacon-on-a-stick and Italian sausages, Dos Hermanos Taco Truck and Little Red Coffee Van. Guests could also enjoy craft beer and wine offerings.
As guests of Night Market walked around and enjoyed the food, they also listened to live music from Pramod Lama, owner of Momo Ghar Market within North Market, and DJ RHYNO. Family-friendly activities included giant pong, yard Yahtzee, cornhole and face painting. Trapped Columbus Escape Room also offered escape adventures for guests.
Independent vendors who normally do not sell their products at North Market were also given the chance to interact with members of the Columbus community at Night Market, such as American Nut Company, American Homestead Mercantile, The Sweater Lady, 2 Girls With Curls, Florence Grace and The Boutique Truck.
Dwayne Schock, a vendor at American Homestead Mercantile, enjoyed the experience of participating in Night Market.
“It’s a really great opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs to get exposure where they may not have had the opportunity to otherwise,” Schock said.
