Tacoma’s Night Market fills the lower level of 734 Pacific Ave. on the first Saturday of every month. The next market will be held Sept. 1. Craig Sailor The News Tribune
Stephanie Anne Johnson looked like she’d just emerged from a party when she stepped out onto Tacoma’s Pacific Avenue the night of Aug. 4.
It was the first Saturday of the month, and Johnson was shopping at the Tacoma Night Market. The building, at 734 Pacific Ave., was pulsing with people, music and light.
Johnson, a Tacoma-based singer and performer, opened her bags to display her purchases: a hat made from repurposed fibers, a ring, scented oils and lip balm.
“I love that it’s at night,” she said of the market.
She also liked the local feel.
“Walking in here,” she said, “I’ve given hugs to about 10 people who I know from other places.”
On Saturday (Sept. 1), the Night Market will hold its fifth iteration in downtown Tacoma. Some 45 vendors will be on hand to sell jewelry, food, dolls, clothing, custom chain stitching, body-care products and more.
“It’s incredible that so many local entrepreneurs are in the room,” Johnson said.
One of them was J.D. Aarde, who was selling earrings and other jewelry made from copper roof tiles salvaged from the Old City Hall clock tower, just down the street.
Aarde said her father, Sanford and Son owner Alan Gorsuch, collected the copper tiles when crews replaced the roof of the 1893 building.
“It helps when I am able to give my spiel,” Aarde said of her sales. “As soon as I say, ‘Are you familiar with the clock tower?’ they want a piece of the building.”
Aarde has sold her wares at all four Night Markets.
“This is a beautifully curated market,” she said, crediting the market’s creator, Leah Morgan.
“The cool thing about Leah is that she has this great way of keeping everything fresh without leaving people out,” Aarde said.
Morgan, 34, makes and sells totes, hats and other items through her Nap Northwest brand.
Her inspiration for the market was born out of necessity.
“I’m not so much a morning person,” she explained. “I wish I was.”
When she sold at other markets she found herself scrambling to load up her wares, do morning chores and get set up.
“I was usually kind of a mess by the time I was ready,” she said.
But Morgan wanted more than just a market held at night. Those already exist — especially in other countries.