Local vendors lined up their booths from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside Downing Student Union Wednesday, Feb. 12 as the Market on the Avenue presented the Valentine’s Day Artisan’s Market. WKU Office of Sustainability and WKU Restaurant Groups hosts Market on the Avenue.
Several local businesses participated in the event, offering a variety of items such as baked goods, jewelry, plants and products from around the community.
Alex Kary from Bowling Green said she went to support a local flower shop that she works for called River Bend Blooms located in Scottsville, 30 minutes outside of Bowling Green. She said their vendor has been coming to the Market on the Avenue for over a year.
She said that River Bend Blooms is a specialty flower farm where they grow the flowers themselves.
“I’m excited to come out and represent their booth during the Market’s Valentine’s Day event,” Kary said.
She said that during the winter they sell Amaryllis and during the warmer months they sell cut flowers.
“I’ve been employed at River Bend Blooms for about six to seven months,” Kary said. “I’ve found enjoyment in both taking home flowers and the beauty of them.”
Kary said that during the warmer seasons, River Bend Blooms come to WKU to set their vendor up every Wednesday at Centennial Mall. She said that she’s not too big on Valentine’s Day but was excited to see everyone come out to celebrate.
“So many girls have come up to me today and said that flowers are good ‘galentines’ presents,” Kary said.
Self-owned bakery owner Hayley Neace from Bowling Green said that she was a vendor last year for Market on the Avenue. She owns her own micro-bakery business, Happy Hen Bakery and Homestead, based in Bowling Green.
Neace said that through her homestead, she produces a lot of her baked goods like gluten-free sourdough bread, scones and muffins. She said before she became a micro-bakery and homestead owner, she was a teacher.
“I taught for five years,” Neace said “I wanted to live a healthier and simple lifestyle with my animals back at home.”
She said that she owns over 100 chickens plus geese, and usually sells her products weekly at the Community Farmers Market located near South Campus. Neace said that occasionally, she sells at vendors hosting events such as WKU’s Valentine’s Day Vendor.
Neace said that she prepared two days prior to the event, preparing dough and baking everything the day before. She said that she got there around 10 a.m. to set up before the event started at 11 a.m.
“There is a pretty good crowd today,” Neace said. “I like Valentines but I prefer holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Owner of Vette City Vintage, Gatlin Milam from Russellville said he just started the Market on the Avenue. His first vendor was last September.
“I’m hyped to represent my business,” Milam said. “Sales have been good and seeing old customers and meeting new ones have been good.”
He said that he came to DSU around 10 a.m. alongside other vendors like WKU Nutrition and local artisan business, Resin.ate, to set up their booths before opening time.
Alongside having a vendor here, he said he has a brick-and-mortar store located in downtown Bowling Green alongside other locations where he sells vintage clothing.
“I have a booth at the consignment corner, our website sells and we just opened up a Depop,” Milam said.
“The people come in waves,” Milam said. “When classes are out, there’s a big rush of people in DSU; it’s great.”
Market on the Avenue hosts similar events such as pop-up farmers markets and Earth Day markets throughout the semester. Upcoming events and more information are available on the WKU Office of Sustainability Instagram or the WKU Restaurant Group Instagram.