By Lillian Reiner
Wyoming-Kentwood News Today Contributor
greer@wktv.org
“When early Americans couldn’t afford wedding rings, they used to make them out of spoons and give them to their partners,” said Sean Artinyan, owner of Artinyan Artworks, one of the many vendors at the Kentwood Farmers Market last Monday.
“I think it speaks to what a lot of Americans are going through now, a lot of us are struggling, and I think it’s a good time to bring upcycling back,” Artinyan continued.
All the way from Howard City, Michigan, this was Artinyan’s first time at the Kentwood Farmers Market. Artinyan makes one-of-a-kind jewelry out of antique silverware, coins and Michigan rocks.
The market takes place every Monday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Kentwood City Hall lawn, located at 4900 Breton Road SE. Each week has a different theme, with this one being Get Your Grill On & Ice Cream Day, in honor of National Ice Cream Day on July 19.
“We try to give new businesses the opportunity to come whether they fit the theme or not,” said Market Manager Sherry Barnum. “We like to highlight local businesses, a lot of our vendors are Kentwood residents, and we try to highlight Kentwood businesses specifically.”
Keeping with the theme, the market featured Smoke’n Butt’s BBQ, a barbeque sauce and seasoning business, and Cone Addicts, which sells flavored waffle cones.
Tressa Liba, owner of Smoke’n Butt’s BBQ, went to school for journalism at Wayne State before deciding to pursue her dream of owning a small business. When Liba married her husband six years ago, they combined his passion for Kansas-City barbeque and her knowledge of running a business to create Smoke’n Butts Barbeque.
They sell unique flavors that can’t be found anywhere else, with their most popular sauces being Big-Bad Wolf and Suey-Berry, which is made from local Michigan blueberries.
Liba emphasized the importance of local markets in gaining exposure and growing small businesses.
“We believe in the power of small business,” Liba said. “You start with your idea, you get it to the local community, and if they like it, you can scale it up and grow it.”
Currently, a majority of their business comes from the four local markets they sell at weekly.
“Backbone of our economy”
“Local businesses, especially local small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and when people come to the market and support the dollars here, every research study you look at is gonna show that those dollars stay in the economy,” said Kris Ridings, owner of Cone Addicts, as well as Crumb Collective, a bakery on Alpine Avenue.
Cone Addicts is a flavored waffle cone and waffle cone chip company that sells 10 flavors of waffle cones, including banana, chocolate, salted caramel, and their seasonal speciality, blueberry.
Cone Addicts began in 2024 selling only to other ice cream shops, before deciding to change their marketing approach and start selling at markets and retail stores.
Next summer at the new Kentwood Community Center
The Kentwood Farmers Market is in its 12th year of operation, according to Barnum, and has moved from the parking lot of city hall to the larger grassy area next to it. The market is planning another move next summer to the parking lot of the newly built Kentwood Community Center, with the hopes of drawing even more traffic.
Currently, the market sees around 100-200 customers each week.
“Hopefully, we’ll catch our patrons coming in and out from their workouts, grabbing some local produce, or just visiting with our local vendors,” Barnum said.
Kentwood resident Andrew Heiserman has visited the Market every week since he and his wife moved here from the Chicago suburbs two years ago.
He said the Market was one of the first things they noticed, and the healthy, quality items kept them coming back.
“I like supporting all the local people putting their hard work and time into the products versus a grocery store chain,” Heiserman said.
The Market will run through Monday, August 17.
