Unlimited Arts Anchors a Monthly Makers Market on Lyndale

Unlimited Arts, Apparel & Accessories, the custom-apparel and streetwear shop at 1936 Lyndale Ave. S., runs a monthly Unlimited Uptown Makers Market in the parking lot of the Watkins Building. The free, family-friendly event gathers more than 20 artisans, crafters and vendors alongside food trucks and beverage sellers, turning a stretch of Lyndale into a temporary marketplace on days people might otherwise pass it by.

The shop is owned by Brad Peasley, who designs and produces apparel locally and works with bands, artists and other businesses on custom merchandise. Peasley has said he started the market to help revitalize Uptown and bring back the community, culture and activity that once drew people to the area.

The market's pitch is direct: it connects shoppers with the people who make the goods. For small makers without a storefront, a recurring market is a low-cost way to reach customers, test products and build a following one weekend at a time. For the host shop, becoming known as the place where the makers gather builds goodwill and foot traffic that a sale rack alone cannot.

That work matters more on Lyndale than it might elsewhere. The broader Uptown area has lost businesses in recent years, and a corridor fighting that perception benefits from anything that fills its sidewalks and gives people a reason to visit on a schedule. A market with a loyal following also builds a habit that can help carry nearby businesses through lean stretches.

Dates and vendor information for the Unlimited Uptown Makers Market are posted at beunlimitedart.com and through the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association at nemaa.org.

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