Photo Courtesy of Ask Jennyfer.
Warm Metro Detroit days, especially those lazy weekend ones, make people think about spending time with friends, enjoying the weather and eating one of the most relaxing meals around – brunch. Having brunch in a park alongside shopping and small businesses is one step better.
That is why people are excited about the launch of a new Sunday Brunch Market in Valade Park with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and All Things Detroit, a Black- and woman-owned small-business firm organized by Detroiter Jennyfer Crawford.
As Detroiters begin to venture back out into the world, COVID numbers decline and people look forward to a summer more like those we used to know, Sunday Brunch Market will become a great way to get outside and hang out, Crawford said.
“Customers are looking for ways to support local businesses and to learn about new businesses. We can do all of that safely this summer – while enjoying the outdoors and live entertainment.”
Sunday Brunch Market is programmed by the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and is set to debut Sundays in Valade Park beginning July 11 and running weekly until September 24, 2021. The event is from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays and is set to feature brunch items from restaurants like Smokey G’s Steakhouse and Geisha Girl Sushi.
“Over the past year a lot of people have started their own businesses,” said Crawford. “We can’t wait to highlight them at our summer events.”
Crawford will be providing at least a half dozen local makers for this market each week. Expect to shop retail and handmade goods and find locally made desserts.
“These events give small business owners the opportunity to pop-up in the heart of downtown Detroit and to connect in person with customers again,” said Crawford.
Crawford is also known for curating events like Market Fridays in Cadillac Square and the popular Night Market at Beacon Park. Her own signature event that focuses on Detroit-area small business, All Things Detroit, is moving from Eastern Market to the open air of Grand Circus Park next month.
“Building a business is hard and after being in business for almost 10 years and working hard to build a following for small businesses, our large-scale events disappeared,” said Crawford. “When the pandemic hit, it pretty much made me have to go back to square one and think about how I was going to stay in business and continue this journey of helping others.”
The other events she’s helping to coordinate include:
Market Fridays
Returns 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 4 and runs through Sept. 17 at The Pop-Up Place at Detroit’s Cadillac Square. Find fresh flowers, just-squeezed lemonade, fresh produce, handmade goods and more.
The Night Market at Beacon Park
The Night Market returns 6-11 p.m. June 5 and runs Saturdays through Aug. 28 at 1903 Grand River in Detroit. The event is free and set to feature local businesses like Scent Science and newcomers My Birthday Doll and 1701 Kid Brand. This event is sponsored by the DTE Energy Beacon Park Foundation, managed by the Downtown Detroit Partnership and curated by Ask Jennyfer.
All Things Detroit
All Things Detroit is known for drawing large crowds to its Eastern Market events. This year, the experience moves outdoors Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 to Grand Circus Park East and West. This open-air, scaled-down version is set to showcase locally-made goods from 30 small businesses – between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1620 Michigan Ave. Ste. 120 in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.
For those not ready to venture out just yet, Crawford spent the past year enhancing her website All Things Marketplace. It’s an easy way to shop local online. And for small business owners, she offers more than an online shop. She added shipping and fulfillment services for small business owners and runs a brick-and-mortar shop and pop-up events featuring all local makers in Corktown.
“Even with the challenges, things are going well and we are just working hard and putting small businesses and safety first,” she said. “When small business owners have a need, we try to fulfill it at a price they can afford.”