Belleville Market in Easton, Pennsylvania at Christmas Time

How many times this holiday season have you thought about what you were going to gift to someone else?  Whether it is the holiday white elephant, or a gift your best friend who has everything she could ever want, or maybe someone you don’t know so well but want to show them just how grateful you are for them? Finding the right gift can be so incredibly hard.  Day in and day out we’re overwhelmed with posts on social media from TikTok to Facebook to Amazon of potential gifts we could buy.  But I recently stumbled upon a place that truly made me re-think this year's gifting.

I stepped inside this incredibly unique "marketplace" located in a large, historic building in Easton, Pennsylvania, and was transported into an unforgettable atmosphere. The high ceilings and distinctively arranged merchandise greet you upon entry. The inspiration for Belleville Market stems from the owners' visits to open-air markets in France; they loved the ambiance and brought that European feel indoors. The result is a collective that marries the charm of an outdoor market with a refreshing take on the traditional department store.

Christmas Goodies Galore at Belleville Market in Easton, Pennsylvania

 It wasn't the overall atmosphere of the marketplace that captivated me, even though it was unique, but the distinct treasures I discovered within. This particular marketplace's structure is a dream for unpressured browsing, as it offers individual, unmanned booth-style spaces for each vendor. You can wander calmly from "shop" to "shop," which, for me, is the best way to browse. The fact that every one of these small "shops" represents a small business only adds to the appeal!

We easily spent a couple of hours browsing the wide and diverse selection, uncovering some incredibly cool finds, all while supporting small businesses. Among the neat things we found were ocean/beach inspired jewelry and home decor, quirky gifts perfect for that hard-to-buy-for coworker this holiday season, kid inspired stickers and clothing and so much more! I even found the perfect gift for the music lover in my life, a bracelet, made out of guitar strings from High Strung Studios! 

Riff Leather Bracelet by High Strung Studios

This holiday season, I encourage you to think bigger, or should I say smaller, and  expand your search for local markets just like this. To find one in your area, seek out "Collectives," Artisan Co-ops (Cooperatives), or Mercantiles. You are very likely to find one nearby! Discover beautiful, unique work while directly supporting small businesses!

Do you already know of a Collective or Marketplace in your area? What has been your favorite find?!

Susan Soler, Contributor