This week, an eclectic group of local designers, artists and creatives set up shop at 744 Broad Street and introduced shoppers to the Downtown Holiday Market. The market is the brainchild of residential and commercial real estate agent Melvin Sykes, who regularly arranges for vacant retail spaces to be transformed into pop-up boutiques for burgeoning fashion brands.
Sykes’ latest pop-up may be his most ambitious yet, showcasing nearly a dozen merchants and spanning multiple storefronts in the historic National Newark Building. The Downtown Holiday Market will host a “sip-and-shop” launch event today from 6-9pm. Open from 11am-8pm Monday through Saturday and running through January 1, the market offers downtown shoppers fresh alternatives for winter fashion and holiday gift giving. In addition to exclusive collections from area designers, shoppers can purchase handcrafted personal care products, jewelry, music and more.
Melvin’s pop-up shops draws creatives together as a collective, affording their work a visibility that may otherwise unattainable for their individual brands. As development continues to transform the face of downtown, these markets provide local artisans with invaluable access to its evolving customer base.
“The pop-ups are a great way to support local entrepreneurs. They provide a valuable opportunity to keep our dollars in our community, affirming our artistry and serving our tastes,” commented Rashidah Ali, who will be presenting her collection of unique jewelry, scarves and handbags.
Sykes was also behind the M&M Mars-hosted pop-up at the National Newark Building, provided thousands of costumes to Newark children this Halloween. Shifting from candy to couture isn’t a leap for Sykes, who has been quietly leveraging relationships with business owners to advance his personal mission of highlighting the best that Brick City has to offer. Reflecting his resounding love for the city of his birth and its potential, Sykes’ tagline “Why not Newark?” and his series of pop-ups offer a challenge to stigmas around the city’s reputation.
“Pop-ups are a rare opportunity. Each one is a collaboration that re-imagines prime real 
estate as a space for incubating and showcasing local talent for a moment in time. Introducing designers to the downtown storefront experience can really help to expand the network and impact of their brands” offered Sykes.
This post was contributed by stylist, photographer, and participating merchant and founder of the BrickCityVarsity.com vintage collection, Larry D. Lyons II.
