On Saturday mornings, throughout Hudson County, you can encounter streets filled with vendors, chatter and music all around while the smell of street food follows you as you walk by tents and tables selling all types of merchandise, new and old.
That is what the Hudson County market culture is like.
New Jersey is home to over 953,000 small businesses, and with Hudson County having a population of approximately 700,000 people, it is no surprise that the county would have tons of locals creating small businesses that fit everyone’s niche. Markets such as the Kearny Flea Market and Bayonne Farmers’ Market, give these vendors a place where they can sell their wares.
“This is a great way to have a little bit of community here. We are an online business so this is a way to meet and interact with our customers who already order from us or new customers and it does create a community here in Bayonne” said Ben Admonius, manager of Double Batch Bakery.
The diverse and vibrant culture that these markets provide is what makes them so popular within Hudson County.
On the second Saturday of every month from April to September, Pacific Flea located in the Bergen-Lafayette section of Jersey City, hosts unique vendors selling antique and vintage items, fine crafts, sustainably crafted items and clothing alongside so much more. The creative shopping experience leaves shoppers and vendors coming back every month.
But another reason why locals love the market environment is because it helps bring them closer to the community.
“I only started in this market a month ago, and the relationship I have created with the other makers has been wonderful and warming and you get to see regulars. It really builds a sense of community,” Dora, the owner of a jewelry company called Ardrahan Metals, told Slice of Culture.
These markets are able to bring more life to the county where people can enjoy what their town or city has to offer, such as the Grove Street Farmers Market.
As part of the The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID) plan, the farmers market aims to boost local businesses while providing a “fun” experience to the locals of Jersey City. Being supported by the likes of Jersey City Medical Center and the many restaurants that occupy the main strip, the market offers a variety of options from freshly baked bread to treats for dogs.
“In this area the Historic Downtown is one of the biggest reasons for people to come down and see… it feels less impersonal,” Arthur, a local vendor, said.
But Grove street is not the only place that locals and visitors can go to experience Hudson County culture.
The Bergenline Flea Market is a market located in North Bergen where they sell vintage items, collectables and various new products.
Over at Magnolia Landing and City Hall Ancillary Lot, the Jersey City Night Market hosts monthly and bi-monthly events that provide live music and over 20 vendors that come from New York City and Jersey City.
The market is sponsored by the Mise En Place Project, a non-profit that focuses on creating and providing assistance to small businesses Food/Artist/Artisans through Festivals and markets and the Jersey City Arts + Culture Trust Fund, a foundation that provides financial support to local artists and businesses in Jersey City.
Along with the help of multiple charities and groups the markets alone help provide exposure to these small businesses across their respected towns.
“It helps a lot. It gives us a lot of publicity and people do not know they don’t even know that we have been here and once we give them our business they return to the store,” said Stephanie Pavone, who is the owner of Squeeze Juice bar in Bayonne.
Hudson County seems to continue its fair share of markets and festivals as Hoboken recently opened three Farmers’ Market that runs on different days during the week from now until November.
