Think summer thoughts at second annual indoor winter South Loop Farmers Market

Cold weather in Chicago can make many residents miss the warmth and vibrancy of farmers markets. But this winter, the South Loop Farmers Market is bringing the community together once again, offering a unique opportunity to shop for fresh, local produce and handmade goods in indoor locations across the city.

Tina Feldstein, cofounder and market manager of the South Loop Farmers Market, has seen her vision grow from a quaint gathering in 2012 to a thriving market with multiple locations. The market has since expanded its presence in Chicago, growing into a beloved community event. 

Feldstein, alongside cofounder Stephanie Jokich, found common ground in their shared passion for food and community. 

Feldstein said that Jokich hadalways been deeply involved in the food scene while she had always been a community organizer, throwing big community events. “Together, it was a perfect pair. We’re so different, (Stephanie) and I, but together we're magic. ”

In 2012 they held their first market at the historic Wheeler Mansion. Despite its initial success and recognition by Timeout Chicago as “Garden Party of the Year,” the market faced challenges due to its remote location. 

Over the years, the market continued to expand, and in 2022, it moved its Thursday-night market to a vacant lot near Roosevelt Collection, where it grew even larger. But in 2024, the real innovation came in the form of a winter indoor market at the Roosevelt Collection, which proved to be a huge success. This year marks the second indoor season for the market, now offering even more opportunities for locals to experience fresh produce and artisanal goods year-round.

“In the winter people automatically assume you have no produce, but that's actually not true,” Feldstein said. “There's a lot of root vegetables, there's also a lot of the things that are grown now in greenhouses and hoop houses. There's a lot more produce than people would expect available during the winter. We're gonna have to really show people that.”

Feldstein also highlights that the market is an opportunity for people to try other food businesses, like ready-to-eat businesses as well as shop around vintage clothing, handmade items, art pieces from artists, and more.

This year is the South Loop Farmers Market’s debut at the Water Tower Place location. The indoor market is a hub for everything from fresh produce to handmade goods, offering a variety of items like functional mushrooms, farm-fresh eggs, artisanal cheeses, and baked goods. 

Although winter farmers markets are not the most conventional, Fieldstein said it is not as hard to run it as it may look.

“The winter market, believe it or not, is actually not a challenge,” she said. “A lot of vendors want to get in our market, we don't have enough room for all the vendors that want to get in and that's our problem, we don't have enough space.”

The market has become more than just a place to shop; it’s a community gathering spot and a third space.

“In sociology there's a belief that humans need three spaces to be happy: home space, work space and a third space,” Feldstein said. “It's definitely more than ever people are longing for and looking for third spaces. Third space is a place where people feel that they can connect, where they can identify.”

For dates, time and more information about the South Loop Farmers Market, visit its website.