Deer District Market kicks off second summer season

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Deer District Market returned for a second season starting Thursday, July 7.

"It feels like a party every time you're at a market," Empress Baking Company owner Hannah Arnold said.

Empress Baking Company is celebrating a milestone. The business is turning one-year-old with the return of the market.

Arnold doesn't have a storefront. So, this market is one of her opportunities to meet with customers face-to-face.

The company sells a variety of crackers and sweet treats.

"Crackers just seemed like a natural fit for what I like to eat and a niche that just wasn't being filled in our city," Arnold said.

On the other end of the plaza, people are putting their creative skills to the test.

Vibez Creative Arts Space aims to reach people of all ages through art.

Creative Director Chrishella Roche is leading a session on how to paint a Milwaukee Bucks jersey at the Deer District Market.

"We're highlighting one of our favorite players, Giannis, with some paint kits for people who step down," Roche said.

This year's vendors feature dozens of local and minority-owned businesses, including Alice’s Garden Empress Baking Company, Delicious Bites, Teens Grow Greens, Slide Gourmet Potato Chips, That Salsa Lady, Bunny’s Bite, Pete’s Pops, Junior Smoked BBQ, DragonFly Farm LLC, At Peace Design, VIBEZ Creative Arts Space, Soul Brew Kombucha, Full Circle Healing Farm (formerly Scales Family Farm), Funky Fresh Spring Rolls, Triciclo Peru, Say It Louder, Rise and Grind Café LLC, A&M Provisions, Cottonmouth MKE, Meat on the Street and Gruber Law Offices.

The market is presented by Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

“We’re proud to partner with Deer District Market and the Milwaukee Bucks to expand upon the success of last year’s inaugural market,” David Olson, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at Froedtert Health, said. “Our collective goal is to support the diverse communities we serve and to build healthier communities supported by the impressive mix of vendors and healthy food options available throughout the market.”

The market is open Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. through August 25.