The Northside Marketplace (featured in my cover photo) is located in downtown Akron. It consists of various artists and small companies combined into one building. They have shopping and restaurants.

This is definitely a unique place to spend some time at and offers interesting shops.

The Area

The marketplace, being located in downtown Akron, is surround by many things as well. After taking a trip at the marketplace, there are many other shops available as well making this very appealing to take a day trip downtown to shop.

Layout

The layout of the marketplace is very unique. The marketplace is attached to apartments and is located at a section of the bottom.

When you walk into the marketplace you are greeted with a cash register. All of the shops are connected so instead of having vendors staying in their section waiting for customers you take everything you want to purchase from any of the booths to the cash register at front to pay.

The shops are set up differently as you walk down a row of booth set ups on each side. Some are for specific people, while some are combined. It is interesting to look through everything to see.

Rubber City Clothing is attached to the marketplace as well, however, you pay there and it is more of a separate store then the rest.

Parking 

It is a little confusing due to the fact that they have limited spots on the street. They do have a few restaurants to park at across the street, however, that is limited and some is for customers only.

On the downtown Akron website, they actually provide a parking map of all the garages and lots in downtown to park at. This is very helpful, however, the downside is the walking distances.

Shops

The shops are changed frequently, but most have a common theme and the do offer the current vendors on their website. There are lots of art vendors and many handmade things. Things such as homemade clothes, cards, and jewelry are sold there. There is also peoples art work for sale in picture forms or put on t shirts. Although all of these shops are changing and are very unique, they do tend to be a bit pricey.

There are some other things such as a honey company, tea company, a bike shop, and rubber city clothing.

Recently when I went there was a ebay area where you could buy local entrepreneurs products by scanning their ebay codes.

Mixed in the shops are small companies that have food and snacks. They have an ice cream shop, candy shop, and coffee shops for treats as well.

Overall I think that the marketplace is incredibly unique and personally very fun to go to even look at these talented, underrated vendors.

The marketplace is giving them a place to be shown to many people and create a community place as well as a point of interest in those who do not live in Akron