Written by Ben Cox – The Brownwood Artisan Market is preparing for its next season, beginning on April 14th. The market is held next to St. John’s Church on Main Street.
Rebecca Morelock, a local baker and the founder of the Artisan Market, says the idea for the event came about in 2016 while she was baking homemade bread out of her kitchen. Morelock had been selling her bread for almost three years and wanting a place to show off her product without owning a brick and mortar store.
“Since the Farmers Market had been closed down for a year and a half, (Brownwood) didn’t have that outlet, I decided to start the Artisan Market as a way to sell my bread,” said Morelock.
There was an average of 15 vendors at the last Market. Vendors rent booth space from Morelock for a seasonal fee. This year has seen over 20 vendors sign up so far for the upcoming season. In order to qualify for a booth at the Market, vendors sell products that are completely handmade. No products can be pre-made and then repackaged for sale at the market.
A wide range of items can be found for sale at this upcoming market including baked goods, canned jellies and jams, handcrafted jewelry, knitted creations, paintings, plants and herbs and more. The open-air market welcomes the community to take a stroll through the booths and find new treasures and treats.
Originally located in the parking lot of an old gas station on Austin Avenue across from Brownwood Decorating, the Market is currently located in the green space next to St. John’s church and Morelock is thankful that the parishioners of St. John’s are appreciative of the Market.
“We have a really good relationship with them, so I hope we’ll be there a while,” she said.
The Artisan Market with be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. till noon thru the 23rd of June. To learn more about the Brownwood Artisan Market, visit their Facebook Page.
