THE FRESHEST OUTDOOR VINTAGE MARKET IN DENVER
BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Nestled right here in our historic Washington Park, Market in the Park-et has quickly become a cherished monthly destination for vintage enthusiasts and supporters of local artisans. From April through October, the iconic Boathouse transforms into a vibrant marketplace, showcasing an eclectic mix of vintage and up-cycled fashion, handcrafted jewelry, home décor, original artwork, and unique gifts. We had a chance to meet with the owner Matthew Simonson to learn more.
Denver has a thriving market scene, including a few vintage-focused events. What inspired you to create Market in the Park-et?
I was still fairly new to the market scene, eager to participate in as many as possible, and learning something valuable from each experience—what worked well as a vendor, what didn’t, and what truly made a market successful. One thing many don’t realize is how rare it is to find a location that naturally fosters the perfect market atmosphere. Back in 2023, there was chatter about potential changes to some RiNo locations and what alternative spaces might be available if the time came when pop-ups could no longer be held there. With that uncertainty bouncing around in my head, I found myself at Wash Park one day walking by the Boathouse and it dawned on me that this would be a great place. I used to live in the towers on the North edge of the park on S. Marion, so I knew what a treasure Wash Park is. But as a vendor, understanding the logistics—foot traffic, protection from weather, loading in, etc., it just all made sense.
Sustainability is a major focus of your market. How do you see Market in the Park-et contributing to an eco-conscious shopping movement?
It’s funny, the sustainability aspect of markets was not something I was exposed to until I started vending, and even though it’s something I care about a lot, many of our vendors are much more eloquent about the subject! But I will say that I think the shopping experience overall is important for the bigger picture. People may not be aware about sustainable shopping, or the effects that our shopping habits can have on our planet. Or they might know and not care. Either way, if we can continually make shopping secondhand/handmade/up-cycled more fun and satisfying than sitting at a computer, people will want to do it more. I personally would much rather shop in the park than on Amazon!
Your market features vintage fashion, handmade goods, and original artwork. How do your vendors align with your vision?
We’re actually a little less curated than most markets, and proudly so. Curation has its place, but can also turn into exclusion rather quickly. Some markets charge vendors a fee just to apply, keeping a lot of talented but risk-averse vendors away. I struggled as a vendor because I wasn’t already “in” with someone. We refuse to perpetuate this.
Luckily I met so many amazing vendors from doing dozens of markets that when I started MitP, my core group of vendors were people that I knew were great, and who trusted me as well. We’ve been able to keep that level of quality going from some combination of naturally attracting like-minded vendors, and just being very fortunate. One of the things I love about our market is that park-goers might find their next treasure from a seasoned vintage dealer, or an ambitious beginner with a fresh perspective. Maybe one day, a future brick-and-mortar Denver small business might say, “I got my start at Market in the Park-et.”
Wash Park is an iconic Denver location— how has the neighborhood embraced you?
I think the response has been very positive overall. My favorite compliments that I’ve received have been from locals who were just walking in the park when they stumbled onto our market. They are usually happy to see the Boathouse—a space often locked and empty, or closed for private events—open for everyone to come in, take in the Smith Lake view, and meet some people. It’s such a wonderful experience, it’s the icing on the cake.
What are some items shoppers might discover at your market and what can you tell us about your vendors?
Well, I could talk forever about our vendors. People may not realize just how much effort most vendors put into their spaces; not just the creation or curation of their products, but the presentation overall. Hours and hours of premeditation and experimentation result in what you see at MitP. You’ll see thousands of amazing things! We’ll have over 60 vendors this year, and it will never be the same 60 vendors. We’ve had handmade yard art objects, gourmet lemonade, stuffed animals, patches, abstract acrylic artwork, vinyl records, small-batch soap…even puppets! Not to mention unique handmade jewelry made from all kinds of techniques and processes. And, of course, hand-picked vintage clothing, accessories, home goods, and knick-knacks with decades of life left in them. We’ve just locked in our vendors for our debut in April and I can’t wait to drop the roster to our followers.
Thrifting and second-hand shopping have exploded in popularity, especially as more people move away from big-box retailers in favor of sustainable, locally sourced alternatives. Why do you think this shift is happening, and how does Market in the Park-et fit into this movement?
I think people are just tired of getting less for more. At those big-box levels of scale there’s almost no incentive to not use the cheapest ingredients, design things that break quickly so you have to buy another one, slash staff to the lowest possible levels so you don’t have to pay for the worker’s health insurance. The result for everyone else is demonstrably worse products, shopping experiences, and work environments. I think it’s felt by everyone, even if they can’t articulate it. It’s very quickly apparent as soon as you start shopping sustainably that almost everything we need has been made already, often in quantities so large that we don’t need to make them again. Our vintage vendors enjoy connecting you with those things, in a way that’s much more personal.
Can you share some challenges you’ve faced in launching and growing the market, and what you’ve learned along the way?
Markets are much trickier than I realized when first starting MitP! You have two customers to satisfy—the shoppers on the market day, and the vendors, who are putting their time, money, and dreams in your hands. What’s more, we don’t charge admission, so we only generate money from the fees vendors pay for the space. It’s a careful balance to make sure that the fees are affordable and fair for them, but that we also have enough money to promote the market properly so that they get a return on their investment. Luckily, you can accomplish great things through this “pooled” approach that I could never accomplish on my own. It can be very stressful, but above all, I’ve learned just how rewarding this work can be when it all comes together on a beautiful sunny day in Wash Park.
What advice would you give to someone looking to shop more sustainably but doesn’t know where to start?
It’s a great way to see the sheer variety of what’s out there, and I think you’ll walk away with something that you didn’t expect to find. And that’s a big part of it; getting the thrill of something you want without a global, exploitative production process that led to that moment. I would also follow the vendors that you like on social media, as they are often sharing information related to sustainability, and other sustainability-related events around Denver. It’s how I educated myself about these issues and made me a more conscious shopper.
How do you see your market evolving?
We have ambitious plans for this season; seven markets, one of them in another location, and some special guests. I think any large meeting ground like this is just a catalyst for all sorts of things. Even at the worst, most defeating markets I ever did, I still came away with a lesson, a relationship, an idea. The more that we open ourselves to relationships with local businesses, new vendors, etc. the more things that I can’t even conceive of can foment. That possibility is really satisfying.
In between markets, how do you spend your free time?
I’m an avid record collector so I’m often at Wax Trax or Recollect Records exploring the new arrivals. I recently got a lens for my camera that is a retrofitted disposable camera lens, so you can take really lo-fi pictures on a modern camera. It’s been very amusing to turn one of the most expensive things I own into essentially a toy, but I’ve been having a ton of fun with it, especially documenting out-of-state vintage markets.
We’re thrilled to have you back this year and will see you April 20th for your first market! To learn more, visit www.marketintheparket.com.