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Date: 11/30/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The Monsoon Roastery is hosting its Second Annual Kringle Market on Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Graffiti Warehouse on 250-270 Albany St. Attendees will have the chance to experience high-quality makers, art, food and drinks and get a start on celebrating the holidays.
Local craft makers and artisans from the Pioneer Valley such as Ashley Ripolone Pottery, Dylan Coppola Designs, Dyke Dyes, Botanical Blends, Barshaw Glass, Upscale Socks, Evermoon Creations and the Flower Shed will be displaying their work ranging from thrift goods, handmade pottery, jewelry, elixirs, tie dye, recycled skateboard crafts, woodworking and much more. Food vendors include Nosh Restaurant and Cafe, Abandoned Building and Rustic Breweries.
Co-owner Andrea Monson said, “We’re offering this to the public as an alternative for their Christmas shopping. We welcome everyone to come to this event put on by small businesses, elevating small businesses where they can meet the makers, look through all the items they prepared for that day and support the local economy within the city of Springfield and surrounding areas.”
Monsoon Roastery is a small, batched, craft coffee roaster business that is part of the Gasoline Alley property. They provide wholesale coffee to various businesses and direct delivery to homes in the area. They also source goodies from the Pioneer Valley, local businesses like Nosh, Granny’s Baking Table, Wicked Whisk, and Comfort Bagel. The Roastery started this market last year as a way to combat the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and make sure small businesses survive, but also something they can do during the winter month.
During the day, Monson works in economic development and was working with some folks in Chicopee a few years back. One gentleman named Nate Moreau who was a planner in the Chicopee department wanted to throw a Kringle Market in town. Due to permitting and licensing, they didn’t have enough time to do it, but the idea stayed with Monson on hosting an upscale market centered around the holidays featuring local small businesses.
“I thought wouldn’t this be awesome to offer at Gasoline Alley and because Monsoon works with a lot of small businesses, we wanted to keep it under one roof and offer that to the public,” Monson added.
Last year, they had 22 vendors including food and drinks. About 600 attendees came through and at one point Monson said there was a bus loading people in. “It was a little overwhelming because we didn’t expect it to be this popular,” Monson responded. “What we did right was that we encouraged all of our vendors to advertise, so the power of social capital really came through for everyone. Not just us making coffee, but people selling their tie-dye, their pottery or their jewelry. Everybody started this buzz collectively.”
This year, Monsoon Roastery will have 30 vendors with the goal of establishing that Springfield is a place worth visiting and full of talent. In the future, Monson hopes the Kringle Market will be a staple in Springfield and inspire these businesses to become established businesses in the city’s landscape.
“I get such a kick at throwing an event and having people actually show up,” Monson, joking, said. “We dreamt it at the coffee shop, we put it into action, and it worked, that’s a big deal that people will show up.”
She went on to say, “We have a good customer base and they’re very loyal, but to have people come out of their comfort zone to a very industrial street in Springfield and buy locally made goods, which is so worth it to me. To see local, small businesses thriving which means there’s potential for them to open a shop somewhere in Springfield and add to that allure and landscape of entrepreneurs.”
Tickets are $1 and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gasoline-alleys-second-annual-kringle-market-tickets-460413698767.
Visit Monsoon Roastery’s Facebook page to learn more information about the Kringle Market. For questions, email amonson@monsoonroastery.com.