Castlerock Market & Art Bazaar opens Saturday

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

One of the organizers of the Castlerock Market & Art Bazaar knows the timing is right for an outdoor marketplace along FM 2147 in Cottonwood Shores.

“You can’t miss it, especially when the sign goes up,” said Mark Love, a “semi-retired” Horseshoe Bay resident running the venture with partners. “Everyone is excited about it. People say we should have had something like this a long time ago.”

Love felt the time was right to get dealers and artisans together to sell their often handmade items as Christmas gifts.

Sure, it’s not even Halloween yet, but Christmas will be here before you know it.

Around 10,000 cars pass through Cottonwood Shores on any given day, which makes it a good place to have an outdoor market, Love said. The market will also be able to take advantage of the turn lane that the Texas Department of Transportation will be starting in January.

Visitors will see nothing made in China or Bangladesh. “We’re not allowing any re-sale items in the market, that would defeat the concept and reason for having the market,” he said.

The goal all along was to find talented hobbyists.

 “I stuck my toe in the water to test the temperature, and on the first day, without really trying hard, we already had two vendors lined up,” he said.

They are ready: permits, licenses and insurance in hand, with port-a-potties and a big sign scheduled for delivery.

“It’s more work than I thought it would be,” Love said.

City administration has encouraged the venture by issuing a blanket permit and trimming the hedges in front of the sign at the entrance to the city.

“We’re underfunded but we make up for it in determination,” Love said.

The project began after a meeting with city councilman Marley Porter, who owns the block of property on Castle Rock Avenue, about another venture. Love credits his wife with the idea.

The layout of the booths on the parcel of land will be “unique,” he said.

“We’re going to take advantage of the shade so the trees will determine where the booths go, it’s not going to be rectangular or square,” he said. “We’re not boring.”

Love expects vendors to come from all over the region: he has confirmations from vendors in Austin and San Antonio just to start with. “I anticipate there will be people who come out the first day and see it and will want to be part of it,” he said.

Even the weather appears to be cooperating.

“Weather predictions are that we’re going to have a super day,” Love said.

The market will be open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., starting Oct. 25 and continuing every Saturday through Dec. 13. It is located at 105 Castle Rock Ave., Cottonwood Shores (on the north side of W. FM 2147).

For more information about the market or to be a vendor, contact Mark Love at 830-613-1029 or castlerockmarket@aol.com.