Shopping has become an experience that many people have foregone in favor of the quick, hassle-free ease of going online, with contactless everything and fast delivery just a click away. But we’ve lost something in the interest of convenience, that special one-on-one, interpersonal exchange that makes shopping more than simply transactional. It is in collectives like Westside Market that shoppers and shop owners have the opportunity to feed off of one another’s energy, creating something special that reminds us of the value of doing business face-to-face and connecting with the people we’re buying from.
First opened in 2013, Westside Market was initially launched with the intention of giving interior designers a place to sell their overstock product and create showrooms to attract new clients for their business. Over time, it attracted a growing number of artisans, designers and small business owners who wanted a more affordable option to a traditional retail space. The market’s success has been such that it has grown from its original flagship location in Midtown to three other locations across the greater Atlanta area, in Roswell and Toco Hill, and in Greenville, South Carolina. Across those four locations, Westside Market boasts more than a thousand vendors whose wares include everything from antiques and collectibles to handmade décor, apparel and furniture.
“We look for uniqueness, things that make what they have to offer different,” says Westside Market’s owner, whose background in furniture and rugs gave him foundational knowledge for creating a successful retail experience. “We love items that are handmade, one-of-a-kind, distinctive, eclectic. We know what our customers are looking for, and they want things that you can’t just find anywhere else. When we opened Westside, we wanted to create a unique shopping experience—something that would keep brick-and-mortar shopping alive.”
The variety of boutiques, shops and businesses comprising Westside Market’s locations make it not only undeniably unique but also convenient. Each shop offers something new and fun to discover, with owners and staff members who can offer their expertise.
“Our home décor retailers offer a wide array of modern, vintage and rustic options that are perfect for giving personality to any space in your home,” says the company owner. “From captivating wall art to beautifully crafted furniture, Westside can provide everything you need to make your home unique and special, in every color, texture and finish imaginable.”
Likewise, the marketplace is a fashion lover’s dream, with vintage clothing and shoes, colorful accessories and eye-catching jewelry. Special gifts can be found in every corner, from candles and soaps to handmade items for any occasion. A wide selection of both new and consignment furniture provides endless options for every room of your home, and an incredible selection of handmade rugs will finish the look and bring your space together.
Aside from the many different items offered, what makes Westside Market special is the tremendous passion that each of its retailers have for what they do. For most of them, working at the market is not their main profession but rather a side gig or hobby, a place for them to come and express their creativity or pursue a dream.
Westside Market’s business model ensures that shoppers come back again and again to find new treasures. As the owner says: “We don’t just look to rent spaces. We look for our vendors to create inspirational spaces that keep our customers wandering around for two hours in each visit. Our staff members are also not just clerks sitting behind the front desk. We have sales teams that work with our customers on the floor, helping them in finding whatever they are looking for.”
Westside Market’s expansion to four locations over the last decade has happened almost organically, meeting the demands of the communities in which it operates. “Every location was by request from the community,” says Westside’s owner. “People have visited the markets from various places and loved what we’re doing here, so we have additional areas that would love to have Westside Market in their neighborhoods. We’re not looking to be like the corporate big-box stores that have swallowed everything. We strive to keep the locally owned, community feel, so when you walk into each store in each of our four different locations, you get a taste of what makes that location unique and what makes that community different. We even name our aisles with street names from the immediate area. Every store is set up different to the others, each with its very own community flavor.”
Feeding back into the community, Westside Market operates a nonprofit for young entrepreneurs trying to launch their dream, offering kids between the ages of 8 and 18 years old a space to showcase their services and products at no cost in the market’s stores.
Vendors and retailers who rent space at any of Westside Market’s locations are also given the resources and expertise they need to succeed. In fact, these entrepreneurs are provided with everything they need to open and operate a store. Westside Market hires the team needed to run the store, pays all utilities, collects and pays sales taxes, and receives shipments for its vendors. In essence, vendors need only to buy and set up their spaces with their products and leave the rest to the Westside Market team. They’ll even see their sales live on the Westside Market app.
Making the stores even more of an immersive experience, each of the Westside Market calendars are filled with reasons to come out and walk the shops. Events include art shows; food trucks on the weekend; nonprofit events, during which time all profits are donated to an organization; pop-up stores; sidewalk sales; car shows; and benefit events to support local police departments. *
Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as a freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on X at @laswrites or download her novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of Us and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
