Brother Chimp Brewing in North Aurora was offering more than just craft beer Saturday as a four-hour Makers Market kicked off at noon.
The event at the facility at 1035 Kilbery Lane featured art, a craft show, food vendors and more, along with plenty of beer options provided by the local brewery.
Brother Chimp owner Steve Newman said the market idea was launched a couple of years ago and that he tries to offer it quarterly when possible.
“We did the first one of these a couple of years ago and there is an organization known as Streetz Artz Alliance that works with a lot of the local breweries doing this,” Newman said. “We use local artisans for each one, and it always varies as to which ones will be there. We have a couple vendors that do very well that are here on a repeat basis.”
Newman said the brewery hosts the markets “as a way to try and help other small local businesses. It’s kind of what craft breweries are all about. Craft breweries work together and try to help each other out as well as trying to help local businesses where it makes sense.”
Newman called the market idea “a win-win as I might wind up getting some new customers that haven’t been here before because of the artisans that are part of the market.”
“Maybe they haven’t been to my brewery before and now they’ve discovered it and they come back,” he said. “At the same time I’m bringing in my local people and they are discovering artisans that they’ll keep a look out for the next time they’re at a different art show. They’ll catch them there.”
Most of the roughly 15 merchants in attendance Saturday had participated in previous markets, Newman said, “but not at the most recent one.”
“We have a couple of regulars but the others are rotated in and out when we do these on a quarterly basis,” he said.
Alissa Harris of Schaumburg, curator of Saturday’s show, said that “Newman cares and knows that a lot of his patrons are artists.”
“There is that effort to support local artists and so, working with the brewery, things just go hand-in-hand,” she said. “When it comes time to organize a show we have a wait list every time as so many people want to participate. This alliance started three years ago and we have a great group of vendors already built up. Half the vendors today have never been here before and we’re trying to make sure we bring out new things for everybody.”
Carisa Orlicz of Sugar Grove was selling body care products under the name of Ursula Naturals at the event.
“We sell natural vegan body, bath and self-care items,” she said. “I’m local to this business and I just love the community. Lots of great people show up and support local businesses, and I’ve been at this venue before.”
Those shopping at the market included Barb Wuchte of Aurora. Wuchte has visited both the brewery and market before and likes the combination of a pop-up market along with a place to have a beer.
“I like there are a lot of unique things that you don’t see everywhere and it changes every time,” Wuchte said. “I’m drawn to whatever I see and like although we usually buy from Ursula Naturals every time. We’ve bought jewelry, stickers and art before – whatever we feel like that day.”
Pedro Rodriguez of Aurora on Saturday said it was his first visit to the brewery. He said the combination of the brewery and the market is a perfect pairing.
“I think it’s pretty cool. I’ve not seen many of these events outside of places other than at Rustic Fox here in North Aurora,” he said. “To have this inside a brewery is kind of a cool idea. It’s very casual. I think this meshes really well. If you’ve got a local brewery supporting local creators that’s always going to be a great collaboration. I love when local artists and businesses can support one another.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
