The Charming - and Original - Big City Bread Holiday Market Returns In Athens, Ga.

Athens may be bursting with artist markets and open house sales this holiday season, but in 1998, there was basically only one: the Big City Bread Holiday Market, which started them all.

“It’s dad gum charming,” says artist and organizer Jamie Voivedich. “It’s magical with the lights, the smoke from the bon fires and the string band. You see everybody you know. The displays are lovely and the art is thoughtful and well made.”

“It’s what I fell in love with when we first came to Athens,” says Matthew Scott, who bought Big City Bread Café in 2005 (and since opened Little City Diner in Wintervile) with his wife, Deenan Scott. “I came to the market, and it was like a Norman Rockwell painting. There were carolers and folk musicians, and everybody bundled up because it was freezing cold. And there were really cool things to buy. When I heard there was an opportunity to buy Big City Bread, that was the first thing that came to my mind, having the opportunity to be part of the market.” He adds, “Credit should be paid to Carol and Carl.”

[See photos from previous years.]

Designers and artists Carol John and her husband Carl Martin originally bought the building at the corner of Meigs Street and North Finley Street for their D.O.C. Unlimited office. They transformed the asphalt parking lot, which sloped from the front of the building to the street, into the beautiful walled courtyard that patrons enjoy today. In tune with their plans to make the corner a friendly communal environment, they rented the front portion of the building to Jim Payne and Ella Silverman, who opened the Big City Bread bakery.

During one of the first courtyard events, a springtime holiday market, someone suggested they have an evening market with lights like ones in Europe. That led to the December holiday market and the signature lights in the Big City Bread trees.

“Through R. Wood and Rinne Allen we found a lot of artists who really were into it, and that first year was just a great success,” says Carol. “No one had experienced anything like that before in Athens. They loved the fireplaces and music, so we just started that tradition.”

Part of the tradition of the holiday market at Big City Bread is the unpredictable weather, including rain, snow and wind.

“One year, Lou Kregel was going to set up this beautiful backdrop that she’d painted and she was going to have people pose in front of it,” says Carol. “And then it was just the windiest two nights ever, where it kept blowing over, and she just packed up and went home and was like, forget it. We said, ‘Come on, Lou! Try! We’ll help you!’” (Laughs.)

But neither rain nor wind nor snow could threaten the real beauty of the annual market.

“For me, a really lovely thing was, Carl’s mom and grandma would come over from Birmingham for the market, and they would sit out here [in the courtyard],” says Carol. “I remember the last time they were here, Carl’s grandmother was about 104 and just having the best time of her life. So I think that’s another nice part of the market for me - and I think it’s still that way - it’s all the different ages, like the grandparents and the babies.”

The market became an Athens tradition with a life of its own in 2009 when Carol was ready to move on and others picked up the torch to keep it going.

“It was time for me to focus on new projects,” says Carol. “And then everyone was like, well, we want to do it. Can we? And I was like, go for it.”

A group of artists continued the market as the Railroad Arts District Holiday Market at the Chase Park warehouses for two years, before returning it to its original Big City Bread home in 2011. Now Jamie (Soup Studios), Brent Swanson (Normaltown Woodworks), Ryan Adams (handcrafted lamps), Ansley Moore (Songbird Soaps) and Kenneth Kase (jewelry) run the market with the enthusiastic cooperation of Matthew, who helps with advertising. He also offers a festive menu at the cafe, including hot drinks and pastries, as well as warm soups and specialities along with their delicious regular menu.

In addition to enjoying the festive atmosphere of wood-burning fires, delicious food and drink, and the soft folksy music of The Red Oak Southern String Band, marketgoers have a feast of over 40 local artists and artisans works to admire and shop, such as 3 Porch Farm (wreaths and organic gifts), See Dan Paint (ornaments and artwork), Lou Kregel (painting), Leslie Snipes (original art), Wing Ding (bird houses), Mimi Morressey (baby and kids hats), and many others.

“I love the community, and the ambiance of this sale,” says Lauren Zeichner, who will be selling her pottery at the market. “To me it encapsulates what I like most about living in Athens.”

The Athens Holiday Market at Big City Bread takes place Thursday and Friday (Dec. 11 and 12) evening from 5 PM to 9 PM at 393 North Finley Street, Athens, GA. Admission is free.