Take advantage of a new Grand Rapids tradition this summer with a visit to the Vintage Street Market. Billed as “5 Sundays / 52 Vendors”, the Vintage Street Market offers a wonderful bit of local flavor, and you just might find that perfect vintage item to complete your collection.

The Market will operate on the second Sunday for five consecutive months at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, 435 Ionia Ave. SW. The dates are May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10 and September 14. Hours of operation for the Vintage Street Market on these five Sundays will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to a carefully selected group of vintage merchants, the usual slate of Downtown Market shops will be open as well. The Market Hall operates from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, and offers a tantalizing collection of butchers, fishmongers, bakers, sweet treats, restaurants, specialty shops and more. A food lover’s delight, the Downtown Market opened in 2013. This nationally recognized facility highlights a wide variety of fresh local produce and cuisine. Operating in a state-of-the-art, 138,000 square foot indoor space, this appealing and modern Grand Rapids gem is reminiscent of the bygone era of fresh food markets. The Market Hall’s 24 regular vendors are joined on-site by a seasonal outdoor farmer’s market that’s open on select days from May through November.

The Vintage Street Market will operate outdoors under the canopy of the farmer’s market space. Following a painstaking selection process, a group of local vendors were chosen to participate. Offering a wide array of vintage goods, the Vintage Market will be a treasure trove for serious collectors and casual shoppers alike. A quick review of the 2014 participant list reveals local vendors offering furniture, housewares, jewelry, general antiques and much more. Several of the more unique vendors include Retro Rentals, offering vintage camper rentals by the weekend or week, Personality Bibs, offering whimsical handcrafted bibs for children, and the Lost Girls, selling high-quality and affordable vintage items from their rehabbed, bright orange RV, affectionately referred to as Winnie.

Don’t miss out on this unique and inviting experience. Join your friends and neighbors for great shopping and fantastic food at this summer’s Vintage Street Market. For more information, visitwww.vintagestreetmarketgr.com. I hope to see you there!