Months ago, one of Jon Jenkins’ friends suggested he promote an Indie Arts & Vintage Marketplace in Indianapolis. Jenkins, who runs between 20 and 25 of the events across the country, listened – and recognized a need for his product closer to his backyard.
“We hadn’t done anything here for about 10 or 15 years,” said Jenkins. “A seed was planted.”
What followed was a June-through-October outdoor run of the event at the Glendale Mall in Indianapolis, to a fantastic reception.
“We had amazing response,” Jenkins said. “Our vendor count went from 40 to 100. We filled a need in Indianapolis that had been lacking.”
The Glendale market iteration gathered so much momentum, that when the season began to draw to a close last month, Jenkins was hesitant to call it quits until spring.
A plan was hatched.
“Everybody involved had worked too hard to say, ‘See you in May,’” said Jenkins. “We started searching for an indoor location.”
Eschewing typical venues such as the State Fairgrounds due to a want for an outside-the-box locale, Jenkins and his team chose the Fountains. 100 vendor spaces are spoken for, and their tenants will peddle everything from furniture to jewelry, from antiques to repurposed goods to art.
“I’m in my early forties, and I’m probably on the upper end of the age demographic that will attend,” Jenkins said. “Kind of the guiding direction is, ‘Will my wife think it’s cool?’ It’s a sophisticated market with cool stuff for people’s homes. You’re going to find stuff here you’re not going to find at the mall.”
The choice to relocate to Carmel was an easy one, Jenkins said.
“Our data showed (the Glendale market) drew very well from Hamilton County. That was the deciding factor – our crowd is already here, so we’ll bring it to them.”
Where: The Fountains, 502 E. Carmel Dr.
When: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: www.indieartsvintage.blogspot.com
Cost: $4 – over 18
