43
Local loyalty, far-out goods at French Market in Canfield
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
CANFIELD
It isn’t Paris, but the streets of the Canfield Fairgrounds were transformed into a French Market for a day.
Visitors could pick up a fresh loaf of bread, various types of pastries and an antique or two.
“It’s an eclectic, unique, variety of different things, things that you sometimes might not find in the stores,” said Kim Tusek, organizer of the event. Tusek owns Things Unique and Antique, a business that offers architectural and antique furniture on consignment and to dealers.
The 75 vendors at Saturday’s event included artists, jewelers, bakers, crafters, and those offering wine, plants and shrubs, clothing and accessories, sporting merchandise and collectables.
Danielle Schwartz of New Springfield stopped to see what local vendors had to offer.
“I like to support the local people,” she said.
Originally from the Mahoning Valley, she lived in Atlanta for years. She recently moved back and was happy to see the market advertised. She visited many French markets while living in Georgia.
“They do it all the time, and it gets people out,” she said. “That’s how the local people get business and get their name out there.”
She said the Canfield market was nice.
“I got some homemade goat’s-milk soap, which I’m excited about,” Schwartz said. “I used to buy homemade soap down at the ones in Georgia.”
You don’t find it everywhere, she said, adding, “It’s something special.”
At the event, she shared a snack of french fries with her son, Micah Hill, 4.
And he enjoyed a moose tracks ice cream cone.
“I want this when we come back here,” he said of the ice cream cone.
He proudly showed off the item he purchased – a brown cowboy hat. He pointed out that it matches the belt he was wearing.
Jan Hoagland, owner of Jan’s World in the North Lima Business Mall Complex, saw the French market as a great opportunity.
“I was all for it, and I’m so glad I did. It’s a tremendous success and there’s so many people coming through,” she said.
Hoagland offers hand-carved leatherwork, stone-wrapped jewelry, horse and dragon pieces, framed horse prints, and more.
“These are all passions of mine,” she said.
It’s nice to share those passions with others, she noted.
Tusek will hold a second French Market at the fairgrounds Oct. 13.