First-Ever Flurry Artisans' Market To Hit Hailstorm Brewing Sunday

TINLEY PARK, IL — A fresh take on an artisan market will pop up at Hailstorm Brewing Co. in Tinley Park Sunday, Sept. 4, giving shoppers a chance to browse while sipping local brews.

The Flurry of Makers Artisan Market will set up shop at the brewery, 8060 186th St. Led by a well-seasoned craft market organizer, it's the brainchild of John Streetz and the Streetz Artz Alliance, a group of 365 artists that work together to bring a unique variety and great talent to local brewery markets in the area. The artists are from the Chicagoland area, but also from southern Wisconsin and northwestern Indiana. The market was started with the goal of shining a spotlight a greater variety of local small businesses.

Having learned from his experience heading up previous craft shows, Streetz formed the Streetz Artz Alliance with a firmer grasp of what will make the group and its events successful.

"This group was inspired by the handmakers and the things I felt were missing or in overabundance at other markets I had done in previous years," Streetz told Patch. "I remember doing craft shows at churches and schools where there would be six soap vendors and twenty jewelry vendors. I recall doing shows with too many MLM's (multi-level marketing) and a lack of quality handmade items.

"There were also issues with communication from the show organizers or lack of direction the day of. And other shows where they charged way too much money and artists I knew were struggling to turn a profit. I took note of what didn't work and what did. I now use this in my work with the Streetz Artz Alliance to better communicate, organize and offer curated markets with minimal overlap. Markets from the Streetz Artz Alliance are also very fair to the artists in terms of what it costs to vend."

At its core, the group's events offer a stage for small businesses to showcase themselves, in a way that's also affordable and successful.

"The breweries are small businesses," Streetz said. "The local artists, makers, tarot readers, henna artists and vintage vendors are all small businesses. In hosting a market at a brewery, not only are the artists getting a chance to sell their passions with the public, but gives the brewery a great day of sales and support, too.

"I love the idea of the brewery getting new regulars because some of these shop goers are visiting the brewery for the first time and maybe falling in love with them. I also love the idea of an artist having a successful show where they aren't paying an exhilarating amount of money to be there."

The Flurry of Makers Market will feature two dozen local artists and vendors, "those artists cover everything from cute to creepy, sweet to salty, unique to wild and macabre to divine," Streetz said.

Goods up for sale at the market cover a spectrum from pickles to guitars, tarot decks, original art, soap, mugs, hot sauce, necklaces, beer can candles, earrings, rhinestone T-shirts, wood decor, wood-turned pens, tarot readings and horror towels.

"One of the perks of doing a craft show at a brewery is being able to imbibe a craft beer or two while shopping," Streetz said. "The artists get to enjoy a tasty beverage as well while they work their table. And the curator who put it all together gets to host the event drinking whatever the hottest IPA is while saying hello to all the artists and visitors. Given that I am the host, and introverted, I approve greatly of being able to quaff a craft beer while enjoying the market."

A project manager by profession, Streetz is a self-described craft beer and bourbon aficionado, which factors into his choice of locale for the events.

"One of the strong recommendations but not an absolute requirement is that the venue is a brewery," he said. "Originally, I would reach out to the breweries I enjoyed and ask to host something.

"While I still actively reach out to breweries to host events at, it's a lot different now. The breweries are reaching out to the Streetz Artz Alliance to host events and thus it's not always about picking the venues. It's more the venues are picking the alliance. I'm totally cool with that."

The Flurry of Makers Market will be held Sunday, Sept. 4 from 12:30 to 5:30 at Hailstorm Brewing Co., 8060 186th St. in Tinley Park.

The group this year has hosted 21 markets, with about 17 more to do through the end of the year. Some of the breweries coming up include Hailstorm Brewing, Open Outcry Brewing, Church Street Brewing (Hop Garten), Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs, Wolfden Brewing, Elmhurst Brewing, Metal Monkey Brewing and Lunar Brewing.

Find Streetz's business page on Facebook for the latest on upcoming shows.

A list of vendors

• Accents by Rosey / Rosey Accents
• Astrocreepcreations
• BE DELICIOUS SWEETS
• Big Mike Soap Co
• Canal Woodturning
• Creative House Crafting Company
• Dan-Dee Creations
• Dead Girl Decor
• Ellipsis Design
• Groovestones Jewelry, Gems & Readings
• Jason Michael West art
• Jonathan Grimm Art
• Kelley.Bakes
• Lees Calaveras
• LeonMechelle Artist Studios
• Linda’s Spot
• Moonlight BEEN
• Project Good Apparel
• Quiero Cafecito
• Scrapgrinder Guitars
• Sid Sauce
• Special K's BeerCandles
• Tarot by Ptah
• Unique Creations by Rachel
• Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods