During the spring and summer months, farmers markets are a staple of the Brainerd community. But at the Main Street Market in downtown Brainerd, just because the temperatures have dropped, it doesn’t mean the shopping has stopped.

“We were supported enough that we were kind of urged a little bit to maybe try to continue during the winter months,” explained Main Street Market Downtown Brainerd organizer Doro Schumann. “This was just kind of an indoor location that we found that kind of kept us right in the heart of [the] Brainerd downtown area, which is what our market’s about. And so it’s just a nice once-a-month market to keep all those vendors in everyone’s thoughts.”

The market typically operates in the parking lot at Brainerd City Hall, but organizers jumped at the chance to bring it indoors to the former Bob & Fran’s Factory Direct on 724 Laurel Street.

“There’s not always little pop-up booths like this and it’s inside, you know—some winter days are pretty cold, so we’re nice and warm in here,” said Jennifer Salvevold, owner of {Photojenic} Photography and a vendor at the market. “And people love to do things and get out and it’s winter, so this is a good time to have fun things to do. And [with] so many people right in this building, you know, you get to go hop around everywhere and everyone has a variety of things to do and see.”

The space, donated by Pueringer Investments, is over 30,000 square feet and features over 40 vendors each month selling everything from baked goods to jewelry, with items made in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

“We’re homegrown and homemade, so everything is made by us,” Schumann continued. “We don’t resell any products. So I think this, you know, going to a farmer’s market, you’re supporting small businesses and families. And I think it’s just very important to get that homegrown and homemade stuff.”

While vendors are selling their goods and interacting with patrons, they’re not only promoting their individual brands, but what the town has to offer as well.

“I think that the Main Street Market Downtown Brainerd has been special because we’re a part of downtown Brainerd and it’s such a historic, majestic place to be,” added Schumann. “We had found other locations around Brainerd and we just decided that when we found this location, it was the heart of downtown Brainerd, which is kind of what we’re all about.”

The Main Street Market Downtown Brainerd is open at its winter location every second Saturday through April.