This weekend marked the opening of Evanston Made’s holiday market, Shop Evanston Made, which occupies the former Urban Outfitters location at 921 Church Street.
The market features a variety of handmade goods, including pottery, jewelry and wall decor available for sale, as well as several large art pieces, sculptures and paintings on display.
In addition to selling art, the space will be utilized for film screenings, live music, social events and more, to help Evanstonians engage with the arts.
The market is a place to “browse, buy and be delighted,” said Lisa Degliantoni, Executive Director of Evanston Made. Hundreds of people have stopped by since the opening, she added.
The space is owned by real estate company GW Properties. The company loves what Evanston Made does for the community and offered the space as a gift for seven weeks, Degliantoni said. Without that generosity, Evanston Made would not be able to afford the space, she said.
The holiday market is a physical manifestation of Evanston Made’s new online store, which launched in October, said Liz Cramer, Co-Director of Evanston Made. The online platform allows for easier communication between the vendor and the shopper, she said. Shoppers can also order art online and pick it up in the physical store, Cramer added.
Until the shop closes in mid-December, the work of 150 artists will be represented, with new art arriving on Mondays and Tuesdays, when the shop is closed.
“It’s just been amazing,” Degliantoni said.
Evanston Made hours are 12 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. The shop is open until December 19.