Local Vendors Flourish at Water Tower Market

On a rainy day inside Magnificent Mile’s Water Tower Place March 23 a vibrant and bustling farmers market thrived. The South Loop Farmers Market is located inside Water Tower Place and Roosevelt Collection through winter and spring. It’ll relocate outdoors in Printer’s Row this summer. 

The market, housed on the mall’s fourth floor, takes place every Sunday from 12 p.m to 4 p.m. and features live music, recreational activities and over 75 vendors.

Claire Cajka is a local artisan who sells hand-drawn temporary tattoos. A 26-year-old freelance animator, Cajka said she found a passion for showcasing her art at markets as a college student.

“I met Stephanie Jokich and Tina Feldstein, who organized the event, through one of the art fairs I was working at,” Cajka said. “They thought the temporary tattoos would translate really well to their farmers market and it has been really great — people love them.” 

The market makes use of a unique space with vendor tables wrapping around the glass elevator at the mall’s center. The effect is a lively space where attendees can meander from one booth to the next and vendors can foster relationships with their neighbors. 

“I have my staples that I’ve been selling since college, and I’ve been creating more generic ones for the farmers market,” Cajka said. “Most of my artwork is kind of macabre so it’s been fun to branch out into fruits and veggies.”

Discounted rates for new vendors provides opportunities for first-time merchants to reserve slots and for organizers to diversify the market. 

One such vendor is Angela Joseph, a 34-year-old Chicago local who opened her Chicago-based business Veggie Brunch after transitioning to a vegan diet. 

Visiting a farmers market in Alabama inspired Joseph to promote her business at one herself. Joseph said she began searching for one in Chicago, ultimately being drawn to the South Loop Farmers Market because of its diversity and unique variety of vendors. 

“This market is super diverse, so there are people from all walks of life who come around my area,” Joseph said. “It’s not one specific demographic or one specific palette, it’s a variety of palettes and backgrounds.”

With winter melting away, the market acquired a lively touch of spring with Zin’s Flower Shop stand, run by 53-year-old employee Megan Sindelar and her son. 

“The market’s another avenue for us to get our business out there and provide fresh flowers for the city of Chicago,” Sindelar said. “It’s fun to see the same vendors or new vendors, it’s like a community and it’s nice to see people buying locally from the farm and craft stands.”

The flower shop, named for owner Christina Stelyn’s daughter, sells its grab-and-go bouquets filled with burnt orange roses and blush pink tulips for $25. Zin’s also offers punch cards for customers who visit the store to receive a free plant. 

Aside from new retailers, long-time Chicago businesses still garner their fair share of attention at the market, including Evanston’s Bennison’s Bakery. 

The bakery, which has been around since 1938, filled their stand with fresh artisan breads, an array of croissants and confections from around the world.

As the afternoon wore on and as market-goers filled tables in the cafeteria area to dig into their food, live musicians performed energetic pop hits. With fitting rooms nearby, customers tried on vintage clothes with the modern twist of bold designs and flashy colors. 

The South Loop Farmers Market offers a memorable experience for attendees, from pastries and international cuisines to pet-friendly portraits and free spinal screenings. 

“The market’s exciting because Water Tower needed a fluff-up after the pandemic and it’s been a fun way for people to get out in the city during winter,” Sindelar said. “We’re coming into spring, it’s still cold out, but I hope this reminds people spring is on its way.” 

The indoor market has been extended through May 18, excluding Easter Sunday on April 20. The market is free to attend every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Water Tower Place’s fourth floor.