Even as the Texas heat blazed on Saturday, local vendors still greeted shoppers with a smile at the most recent Providence Village Mini Moon Market.
Founders Jessica Cross and Nikel Soto held their first Mini Moon Market outside Town Hall in 2021; the market in Providence Village went on hiatus for several years, but it returned this budget year.
“It was really fun to come back, especially with a lot of support from [the Economic Development Corporation], so that was really great, especially starting here, and being back has been awesome,” Soto said.
Starting this budget year, the market receives funding from the Economic Development Corporation for the first time.
“It's a great way for us to efficiently put on these events that the residents have asked for and to support numerous local small businesses all in one place,' said Klayton Rutherford, the EDC president and Town Council member.
Local business such as that of first-time vendor Shelby Crisp, the owner of Meadowlight Studio.
Crisp launched her business back in February.
She first started making keychains, then car charms, and now pens and teacher lanyards.
“Doing this gets me back out there, and seeing friendly faces, getting to know people, and getting to talk about my business,” Crisp said.
A craft lover at heart, Crisp was inspired by an online video of someone making handmade silicone keychains and thought it would be neat to try.
“I started making these, and I'm like, ‘Oh, I love it,’” she said. “It was a very new hobby of mine, so then I started making more and more, and then I'm like, ‘I'm going to try to sell these and see how it goes.’” For Tiffany Thompson, owner of Specialteescakes, it was her third time as a vendor at the Mini Moon Market selling gourmet cupcakes and custom-made treats, and it has brought her repeat customers.
“A lady found me here, and I did her baby shower cake; I did a wedding cake; I did a birthday cake,” Thompson said. “…That's a lot of good business. It's worth it.”
Along with the vendors, the event also had live music, food trucks and games.
Kirstie Busa sat on the concrete, grooving to the music with her younger sister Audrie Busa as the local band, Lone Waddy and the Salebarn Junkies, played.
“My fiancé is actually the guitar player in the band with the cowboy hat, so we came out to support him,” Kirstie said. “… and I like shopping at the little shops, so it's always a good time to come.”
Since the Mini Moon Market’s inception in Providence Village, the markets held in the town have always taken place outside of Town Hall.
However, now that the Providence Village Town Square opens soon, future markets will happen there.
“It's bittersweet, but I feel like we've grown, our town has grown, and the business has grown,” Cross said.
Soto added to that. “It feels like it's ready to move on to somewhere new and exciting,” she said.
The next market will be Dec. 5 at the Providence Village Town Square, the first market of the new budget year and the same day as the annual Christmas Parade.
“I would just encourage all of our residents to come out to these events,” Rutherford said. “The more people who come out, the better the small businesses do, the easier it is to put on these events going forward, so come out to the next one.”
