A crowd of hundreds perused dozens of vendor tables at Morton Grove's Fall Market Fair on Saturday, showcasing the goods and services of small business owners at the Prairie View Community Center.
“The old market squares and fairs have mostly been replaced by online shopping, but this fall market fair opportunity offers more than just goods and services,” said Mark Matz, president of the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce. “It provides an opportunity for the community at large to see others in person as residents supporting their arts, crafts, businesses and interests.”
Matz explained that the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the Fall Market Fair with community partners.
“This event is a successor to the old Chamber of Commerce indoor markets we used to hold twice a year in the spring and fall,” Matz said.
He said the event outgrew the Morton Grove Civic Center after October 2022 and was moved to the Prairie View Center in 2023. Initially it was held on the upper floor of the center, but this year was the first fair to be held on the main floor — to allow more space. For sellers.
“The holiday season goes by at lightning speed from Halloween to Thanksgiving, to Christmas and Hanukkah, and then to New Year’s. So the early start puts everyone in seasonal mode,” Matz said.
Supporting the show's 70 vendors means helping local businesses — which can also be family, friends and neighbors — by keeping money spent on vacations in Morton Grove, he said.
Among the small business owners who attended the fair was Nancy Englund Kabat, a retired music teacher from Morton Grove who owns Nancy K's Niche. She participated with her husband, Brian Kabat, of Brian Kabat Photography, and their adult children who are professional musicians and performed at the show.
Englund-Kabat said supporting local business owners is vital because “we are part of the community.” “This is our livelihood and we want to stay involved in this community.”
Artist and vendor Sarah Berezin, a 47-year-old Morton Grove resident, sold hand-painted canvas pieces at the table. Berezin also takes art commissions.
Other vendors include Morton Grove's Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy.
“Our organization has been around for 37 years,” said Jerry Feldman, of Morton Grove, who serves on the board of Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy. “We work in hospitals, we work in schools, we work in libraries, we provide therapy.”
Milo, a 4-year-old male American Indian Terrier, a therapy dog with the help of Rainbow Animals, visited the exhibit with Christina Maldonado, of Chicago's Norwood Park neighborhood.
Johnny Mitchell, street supervisor for the Department of Public Works, handed out free ice scrapers and Halloween candy.
Jeffrey White, executive director of the Morton Grove Park District, also set up a community table.
“It's just a matter of us being here, supporting the chamber, and having it available to the residents as well. This is just another opportunity for us,” White said.
Carrie Angel Locke is a freelance writer.
