CityGate Centre will welcome Naperville Artisan Market 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7. A second Artisan Market will be held at the location the weekend of Oct. 8 and 9.
Featuring up to 100 local artisans, the Naperville Artisan Market is the first in the area managed by the experienced event team behind Chicago Artisan Market events in Fulton Market and the city’s Ravenswood neighborhood.
“We are impressed with the events presented in Chicago,” said Ryan Kingston, general manager of Hotel Arista, the modern luxury boutique hotel that anchors CityGate Centre. “This is a wonderful opportunity to partner with another strong, highly respected brand that aligns with our commitment to supporting local businesses and the interests of our community.”
Event organizer INV Marketing Group, LLC has been showcasing small-business owners and independent artists since 2004. Its co-founders Jonathan and Lynna Smith have hosted more than 30 Artisan Market events since 2018, including those held in Chicago and in Oak Brook, along with more than 150 pop-up events and large-scale shopping and runway events such as FashionChicago and StyleChicago.com’s The Art of Fashion in Millennium Park.
“We are very selective, and only pick partners who align with our mission and quality standards,” said Jonathan Smith. “CityGate Centre is a spacious, sustainable and beautiful community that embraces small business, and Hotel Arista is the only AAA Four Diamond hotel in Naperville, the only Forbes-recommended in any of Chicago’s suburbs, and it was the first LEED-certified hotel in the State of Illinois.”
The location also is readily accessible, adjacent to I-88 at Rte. 59, with plenty of free parking.
“Both our artisan community and our shoppers recognize and appreciate the importance of a premium event and location with first class amenities. It elevates the experience for everyone involved,” Jonathan Smith added.
Both the August and October Naperville Artisan Market events will be held outdoors throughout CityGate Centre – on the Plaza adjacent to Hotel Arista, along CityGate Lane between the hotel and the neighborhood’s new luxury apartment building, and on the expansive lawn alongside CityGate Centre’s own Chefs’ Garden that grows fresh produce served seasonally at the dining and drinking establishments at CityGate Centre.
Among the artisans presenting fashion, home goods, art and packaged food, CityGate Centre establishments – USDA Prime steak and seafood restaurant, CityGate Grille; authentic, Italy-to-Table dining spot, Che Figata; sports bar featuring HD golf and a house-made menu, Tap In Pub; craft cocktail spot Zorba Cocktail Bar; and Italian coffee shop Lavazza – will be open during Market hours to welcome visitors. Playroom Café Two, CityGate Centre’s indoor play space for children ages 6 months to 6 years and their parents, will offer a $3 discount during event hours to families attending the Naperville Artisan Market.
Artisans may apply to participate at www.napervilleartisanmarket.com/apply.
“While our artisan community members – vendors and shoppers – regularly participate in our markets, we encourage those local to the Naperville community to also join in,” said Jonathan Smith.
“We know our Naperville community supports local businesses, and we are so very excited to partner with Jonathan and Lynna to bring this high-quality event to Naperville,” added Kingston.
There is no admission fee or registration required for guests attending the Naperville Artisan Market events, though attendees are encouraged to RSVP to receive event updates, including weather-related, at www.napervilleartisanmarket.com. For location information, visit www.citygatecentre.com.