Despite drizzly, dreary weather, the show went on today at the launch of a holiday pop-up market in Jersey City meant to promote small business shopping.
JERSEY CITY -- Despite drizzly, dreary weather, the show went on today at the launch of a holiday pop-up market in Jersey City meant to promote small business shopping.
"Holiday Mart @ The HUB" kicked off this morning at the Martin Luther King Drive Hub shopping center, offering city residents ice skating, live music, food trucks and about 20 different indoor craft vendors.
"The purpose of the event is to provide small businesses a venue to make money and promote their businesses during this season," said Michele Massey, executive director of the Jackson Hill Main Street Special Improvement District.
The market is co-sponsored by the Jersey City Office of Innovation, the Jackson Hill Main Street Management Corporation, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, Investors Bank and GoLokal.
Earlier this afternoon, as a light rain fell, only a handful of people could be seen shopping at the indoor market or hanging out outside where there were food trucks and a stage set up for musical performances.
Traycee Nelson-Simmons, who had a table set up at the market to sell her handmade crochet items, said at around 2 p.m. that no one had bought her merchandise yet. But she noted that the event had just gotten underway, and that her table was located in a more out-of-the-way spot.
"(Having a market) is a great idea. You just need to get the people in here, so they can take an interest in what you're doing," Nelson-Simmons said.
Meanwhile, Paul Fudall, who was selling handmade wood crafts near the entrance of the market, told The Jersey Journal that sales were going well for his table.
The shopping market will be open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 20.
Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.