Hidden Gems: Meet Matthew Simonson of Market in the Park-et

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Simonson

Hi Matthew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi! I’m Matthew and I started Market in the Park-et in September of 2023. I’ve been an independent vintage clothing dealer (@rhymetymefinds on IG) since around November 2022 and had attended many markets, and I was inspired by the market makers around me to give organizing one myself a shot. I knew location was going to be the number one most important factor to whether the market was going to be worthwhile or not, so I started brainstorming. I was walking in Wash Park one day and I knew pretty quickly that the boathouse had seemingly everything that a vendor likes to see: good foot traffic, protection from weather, clean paved surfaces for loading in and out. So I inquired about reserving the Boathouse, and we had our first “Market in the Park-et” as a test run. It went really well!
We came back to the Boathouse in May of 2024 (the park closes the Boathouse for the winter). We had six markets in our 2024 season, each one trying to build upon the last. We more than doubled the amount of vendors, and we expanded to the lawn area outside of the Boathouse. We also offer a much more diverse set of things–vinyl records, herbal remedies, baked goods, tintype photography…all kinds of things.
This year we have seven dates planned, starting in April, and we’re really looking forward to getting back out there and having fun shopping in the sun!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In some ways I feel really lucky that getting it started was as smooth as it was. The people we’ve worked with have ended up being amazing, particularly the Parks department, our taco truck (Tacos Flamingos), and the vendors. We have only had minor hiccups, really.
But there’s a lot that goes into planning even a relatively small market, if you’re committed to putting in the effort to make it successful. And just when you think you’ve got it down, something changes or you add another element that makes it feel like a brand new undertaking, even when it’s not. Each event is a production that involves a lot of signage, flyering, coordinating with over 60 people, etc. I’d say my biggest struggle has been psychologically accepting that even with all that work and effort, a market might still not go perfectly due to weather, or other factors beyond your control. Accepting that you won’t really know if something like a new marketing strategy, or a new booth layout, is a good idea until you’ve tried it. So, a bit of letting go and reminding yourself that whatever happens, we’ll learn from it and move on.

We’ve been impressed with Market in the Park-et, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Market in the Park-et is a monthly outdoor market featuring vintage and upcycled clothing and accessories, handmade and custom jewelry, original artwork, decor, food and drink, and more. We have so far been in the Smith Lake Boathouse in Washington Park, but we will have one date in September at the City Park Pavilion this year. We feature over 60 local small business with a general emphasis on vintage and/or sustainably made products. We strive to combine the fun of being in a beautiful park with the fun of shopping locally!
I think the biggest thing that sets us apart is that when you’re shopping in the park, you’re not just shopping. You’re getting a great view, fresh air, exercise, face time with your community, you’re meeting new people, getting new ideas, etc. It’s a much more fulfilling and comprehensive way to shop. It’s more spontaneous, and more kismet-oriented. Patrons very often walk away with their new favorite thing that they didn’t even know they needed.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Our dates for 2025 are:

4/20
5/18
6/29
7/27
8/31
9/21
10/19

And you can find more information about our markets at www.marketintheparket.com, on IG @marketintheparket, or on our Market in the Park-et Facebook Page. We’ll see you in the park in April!

Pricing:

• Admission to the events are completely free. Vendors control the pricing of their products, so it varies widely, but is within the reasonable scope for such products

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marketintheparket.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketintheparket
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561896962544

Image Credits
All images copyright 2024 Rhyme Tyme Finds