Downtown entrepreneur helps launch Second Saturday event

May 14, 2025

An eclectic group of local small-businesses owners is coming together to bring an event to downtown.

It typically will be held the second Saturday of each month but will start this month on May 17 at 8th & Railroad Center in a space next to Remedy Brewing Co.’s patio.

“My idea with this was to bring together a bunch of local creators — anything from clothing brands, sneaker vendors, local art, people who sell comics and cards, and a handful of food products,” said Owen Monahan, who owns Thrift Heat Vintage inside 8th & Railroad Center.

More than 25 vendors and five food trucks have signed up for The Second Saturday Market, which will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the east side of the building at 401 E. Eighth St.

“My goal was just to bring everyone under one roof so we can share an audience, share a community and grow together. Because in theory, we’re not competing against each other. We’re all specializing in a different aspect of the retail journey,” he said.

There also will be activities for all ages including bean bags, a basketball hoop and nostalgic video games, along with live music, beverages from Remedy and a local barber shop offering haircuts.

Prospective vendors can apply here.

“My idea was creating a different style of event because the farmers market goes during the day, and there wasn’t anything targeting this audience toward evening, and for younger people who aren’t over 21, there isn’t really a spot downtown they can hang out and experience something.”

Monahan started his vintage and sneaker store in 2017 when he was still in high school. He opened a storefront in The Crane Centre in 2020 while he was doing school remotely during the pandemic, with hours by appointment. He expanded into his current space with regular hours in 2023.

“I mainly specialize in anything from the ’70s, ’80s and into the ’90s — toys, small knickknacks, VHS tapes and then jeans and hoodies and crew necks,” he said. “I like to have them here so people can reminisce.”

With a social media following of more than 100,000, he also ships to customers globally.

“It’s grown tremendously,” he said, adding that friends help him source merchandise nationwide, and he will buy from sellers locally when they bring things into the store. Hours could expand, but for now they’re noon to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

He’s working on a 1,000-square-foot expansion of his space that will allow him to create more of a toy store feel in one area with a clothing side in the other.

“Downtown has always had my heart,” he said. “I couldn’t find anywhere else I wanted to open a store other than downtown.”

For details on The Second Saturday Market, click here.

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