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A Hub For Artisans, Eateries And Creative Start-ups

by Dekalb Market on July 7, 2011

in Artists, Chefs, Farmers, food vendors, Makers

New “shipping container” market features local shops, an incubator farm, an Internet radio station, and cutting-edge food vendors. Urban Space is excited to announce that Dekalb Market, a new sustainable hub for retail and community, is scheduled to open on Fulton Mall in Downtown Brooklyn on Saturday, July 23.
A collection of shops, an educational farm, an Internet radio station, and food vendors, the market will provide fun and entertainment for people of all ages. A portion of the market’s vendors will be housed in retrofitted shipping containers, alongside an incubator urban farm.
Dekalb Market will be located at the intersection of Flatbush and Willoughby in Downtown Brooklyn, close to Fort Greene, DUMBO, Long Island University, Metrotech, the downtown business district and Fulton Street.
“We’re creating a central location in Brooklyn for commerce, art and design, as well as a functioning green space for people in the neighborhood to enjoy,” says Eldon Scott, President of Urban Space.  Urban Space aims to support the growth of Brooklyn’s best creative entrepreneurs by offering them an
affordable retail alternative to a traditional storefront—all in a unique and dynamic marketplace setting.
What you’ll find at Dekalb Market:
Dekalb Farm – An educational resource for the public and the urban agricultural community, Dekalb Farm will be a small urban farm operated by local farmers and education partners, including Family Cooks Productions, 3rd Ward, New York City College of Technology, The Brooklyn Grange, Newton Farm Cooperative, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Atom’s Eco.
The farm’s produce will be incorporated into on-site cooking demos, food vendors’ recipes, a local university’s culinary arts program and into a community “food security” distribution plan.
BBOX Radio – A community Internet radio station that will be broadcasting live, online and on-site from their container at the Dekalb Market. Radio show submissions are currently being accepted. Visit www.bboxradio.com for more information.
*Food – Some of Brooklyn’s best and newest small food purveyors are setting up shop at Dekalb Market. Vendors include Cheeky’s, Cuzin’s Duzin, Joe the Art of Coffee, Maharlika, Mazie’s Bites, Nile Valley Juice & Sandwiches, Pasticcio, Robicelli’s, Sour Puss Pickles, and Tea by Tiffany.
*Shops – Unique, popular, locally-owned designers and purveyors, including B66, Brooklyn Rock, Daga Antiques, Hank & JoJo, Harriet’s by Hekima, Honeysuckle & Hearts, kudu-lah, Little Poco, Pratt Design Incubator and Yakblak Specs & Sunnies.
*Weekend Market – A unique mix of makers, artisans and producers will also set up at the Dekalb Market’s weekend market, in custom-made market stalls, which will be open on Saturdays and Sundays.
*Events – A variety of events featuring local entertainment and community programs will appear throughout the week.
About Urban Space
Urban Space is a leading developer and manager of specialty retail projects in Great Britain (i.e. Camden Lock, Spitalfields Market and Chelsea Farmers Market) and in the United States (i.e. Madison Square Park, Columbus Circle and Union Square Holiday Markets in NYC). The company focuses on creating markets that best reflect the community and neighborhoods in which they exist, attract the most unique and exciting local artisans, and showcase the personalities and stories of their vendors.

Farmer Erika | Dekalb Farm: From Delivery to Dirt
From humble beginnings the DeKalb Farm has finally begun to take shape! We must first begin by thanking Build It Green of Long Island City who donated the lumber that acts as the retaining walls for our raised beds. It was a cold day in march when the lumber made its way to the site with the help of farm friends Jeffrey Keefe and Ian Boyle (pictured with wood).
Unfortunately time ticked by as we waited for our permits to come through, but finally we were able to spring in to action. The beds were built in a day with the help of Urban Space super intern, Lawrence Woo, local chef Charlie Mirisola and my fav ex-boyfriend Dave Magdich. No pictures survived because construction went on in the pouring rain. It was a labor of love, really.

And then came the dirt. On the hottest day so far we received 75 cubic yards of top soil and 25 cubic yards of compost from Brooklyn-based Atlas Roll-off. With the help of a rotating cast of volunteers we filled the beds and tilled the soil in preparation for the next days arrival of the farmers.
So, before announcing our farm partners and their exciting projects, I’d like to thank all our volunteers. They are: Lawrence Woo, Charlie Mirisola, Ian Boyle, John Bernstien, Dave Magdich, Jon Peter Brenner, Jeffrey Keefe, Rafi Nunberg, Miranda Harter, Elliot Mattson and their cousin Nico. They were all invaluable to getting this farm off the ground.

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If you didn’t get a chance to come get your hands dirty on our first “dirt day”, don’t fret! There are plenty of other volunteer opportunities coming up in the very near future! Stay tuned to hear more about our farmers, their projects, upcoming workshops or fun events!

Farmer Erika

Dekalb Farm Coordinator @erimanatee

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