Pop-up shop to offer sweets and treats in the downtown

By Brandi Makuski

A holiday pop-up shop is opening on Saturday with hopes to fill a winter void in baked good offerings downtown.

Market Sweets & Treats opened Nov. 10 inside a vacant storefront at 1336 Strongs Ave. The market will be operated by Larry and Sara Raikowski, owners of The Market on Strongs next door.

“In the summers there are live events and other things going on downtown, but in the winter, things like the downtown farmers market aren’t here,” Sara Raikowski said. “So we thought this would be something fun and family-oriented located downtown, something that brings the community together.”

Homemade cookies, pastries, and bread will be prepared in the commercial kitchen of the Raikowski’s Junction City farm, she added.

Patrons will find an array of home-baked goodies in the temporary market made by some of the Market on Strongs partners, as well as Larry Raikowski—an organic farmer and Portage Co. Board Supervisor whose multiple talents also allowed him to redo floors in the recently-vacated storefront in preparation of the pop-up market (and in January, a new tenant).

Larry Raikowski said the couple plan to fill the space with plenty of seating space. Coffee, chocolates, and other sweet treats will also be for sale, he said.

The shop is open every Saturday through Christmas from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information find the market on Facebook.