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With the wide variety of products—
greeting cards, wine, chocolates, knits
and more—there was a non-competing element
to the market, and “people could
buy everything they needed for holiday
parties and holiday gifts in one market,”
Franco said.
Since the first market went so well, the
group put on another Astoria Tiny Market
for Valentine’s Day, and then another for
Mother’s Day.
When they moved to Judy & Punch
starting with the 2016 holiday market,
their attendance tripled.
“The guys at Judy & Punch are really
open to local businesses, and it’s mutually
beneficial, because we bring a different
crowd to the bar,” she said. “It was a
really great combination.”
Each market has about seven vendors—
the founding members plus two or three
guest vendors—and is a one-day event.
Now, there are about five Astoria Tiny
Markets each year.
“We keep growing and we keep expanding
and we keep learning, so we
might someday do a two-day market;
who knows,” she said. “It’s very fluid and
that’s one of the reasons why it’s important
for us to still keep it tiny.”
It’s important that as the market grows,
it stays creative, effective, efficient and inclusive
of everyone, she said.
“We really like to emphasize locally
made products because we want to
serve our community,” she said.
People from Manhattan and Brooklyn
have asked to be part of the market, Franco
said, “but we want to keep it Queens
makers.”
The next Astoria Tiny Market will be at
Judy & Punch on Saturday, Aug. 12, from
2 to 6 p.m.
Additionally, Franco produces two bazaars
a year at Q.E.D., which are also “100
percent Queens makers,” Franco said.
These bazaars are much bigger than the
Astoria Tiny Market, with about 20 vendors.
The Q.E.D. Summer Bazaar is on Saturday,
July 22, from noon to 5 p.m.
With Widycat Designs, the Astoria Tiny
Market and the Q.E.D. bazaar, Franco
certainly has her hands full, but she loves
what she does.
“It’s been a very special experience
because I’ve gotten to push myself as an
artist and try to offer people something
very distinctive that you can’t really find
out on the market, and that to me is very
important,” she said.
There is something much more personal
in giving a loved one a greeting card
that was lovingly made by a local artist
rather than picking up a Hallmark card
at a chain pharmacy, and Franco understands
that her business’s power is in offering
something only she can create.
Photo: Katrina Medoff/BORO Photos courtesy of Widad Franco
UPCOMING MARKETS
Q.E.D. SUMMER BAZAAR
SATURDAY, JULY 22
NOON TO 5 P.M.
Q.E.D. ASTORIA
27-16 23RD AVE., ASTORIA
SUMMER ASTORIA TINY MARKET
SATURDAY, AUG. 12
2 TO 6 P.M.
JUDY & PUNCH
34-08 30TH AVE., ASTORIA