New handmade market in Hamilton eyes Valentine Day’s grand opening

Published January 24, 2023 at 2:44 pm

A new space where makers can sell their wares in Hamilton is set to open fairly imminently.

Shadow and Spark Collective, whose self-description says it will be a haven for a “handmade market, beauty studio, (and) art workshops,” is making its final preparations to open at 310 King St. E. in the international village business district downtown. Its target date for a grand opening is on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, which is three weeks away.

A pore over Shadow and Spark’s social media posts indicates it has been in contact with vendors about collaborations on selling homemade products such as candy, chocolate, holistic items, home goods, jams/sauces, oddities, pet items, spices, and that of the Wicca variety. It is also offering to waive fees for February for vendors who sign on for three or more months.

Another recent post says Shadow and Spark will be holding a drop-in session from 1 p.m. till 3 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 29) where potential customers and vendors can meet the store’s management and ask questions.

The physical space that Shadow and Spark will inhabit is at the corner of King and Spring streets. Located between the Café Oranje coffee shop and the parking lot for a Denninger’s Foods of the World grocery store and deli, it has been unoccupied for several months.

The international village recently added the Into The Abyss music store, and is also home to notable unique businesses such as the Vintagesoulgeek clothing store.