People fill the strip of Maplewood Mall at the Germantown Night Market. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)
Maplewood Mall attracted over two hundred locals on Saturday afternoon into the evening, eager to spend their dollars with vendors filling the iconic neighborhood strip at the Germantown Night Market.
Leaving no space or gap open on the mall, small businesses, food trucks, artists, community groups, and organizations alike offered something different to neighborhood patrons, such as cheesy birria tacos, henna tattoos, or even jewelry.
“The vibes are great, and everyone is out showing love. It’s great to see,” said Urban Farmer Steve, who was out vending his various types of gourmet mushrooms and grow kits.
Helping to keep the vibes right and the rhythm up, DJs spun tunes, transforming the retail experience into a full-blown block party.
The complete DJ list included Maggie Nolan, Bran Math, Oluwafemi, Matiego & Dahi Divine, and Bluu Boy, who each performed hour-long sets from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The market was organized by Way To Grow Nursery School owner Shirley Wardlaw and 387 Grooming owner Kiki Bufford. Both are members of the Maplewood Collective, which organizes businesses located on the mall to activate the corridor.
Overall, Wardlaw says through their frequent events, they hope to showcase not only the mall, but also “Germantown and the beautiful people in it.”
Bufford emphasizes the importance of local economics and names this market as a way to remind people of nearby assets.
“We want people to know that Maplewood is thriving, that there are Black-owned and woman-owned businesses here, and you can do a lot of local shopping here,” said Bufford.
The festival even drew people from across the city. Phyllis Jackson, 64, said she and her sister traveled from West Philly after seeing a post on Facebook.
Buyers and vendors alike appreciated the atmosphere and expressed gratitude to organizers for a successful community event.
Aisha Waters, owner of Space & Grace Yoga studio, agreed, saying, “I love coming to Maplewood Mall, being with the community, and sharing laughs and experiences with them.”
The next Germantown Night Market is set to take place in November. Follow the Maplewood Collective on Instagram to stay up-to-date on other upcoming events.