Mountain View’s downtown pedestrian mall is set to become a testing ground for local artists, makers and small businesses this fall, as the city prepares to launch a new Makers Market on Castro Street.
The pilot series will bring vendors to the 300 block of Castro Street on four Fridays: Sept. 18, Oct. 23, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18. Each market will run from 2 to 8 p.m., according to the city’s Makers Market FAQ.
Amanda Rotella, Mountain View’s economic vitality manager, said the market is meant to serve both vendors and the downtown businesses around them. The city is offering booth space at no cost in an effort to make the event more accessible to artists and entrepreneurs who may not have the resources to take part in more expensive markets.
“We want to create a free, easily accessible, low-barrier opportunity for those ‘micro-preneurs’ and artists,” Rotella said. “We also really want to encourage street-level activation in our downtown.”
The city is seeking makers who sell products such as jewelry, ceramics, textiles, clothing, paper goods, fine art, bath and body products, housewares, plants and more, according to the vendor application packet.
Mountain View-based vendors will be prioritized, but Rotella said makers from the broader Bay Area region, are also encouraged to apply.
The city is aiming for about 30 vendors, though the final number could change depending on space and whether some vendors share booths, according to Rotella.
“We want to bring creatives together,” Rotella said. “We’re hoping to really have a mix.”
The 300 block of Castro Street was chosen because it offers more room for programming than other parts of the downtown pedestrian mall, where restaurants have expanded outdoor dining into the street.
Rotella said the city has reached out to nearby businesses, the Downtown Business Association and the city’s own Downtown Committee about the pilot. She said the city sees the market as a way to bring more shoppers downtown before they visit restaurants and retailers.
“It’s right around the happy hour time frame,” Rotella said. “Come shop at the maker’s fair, then grab a bite to eat at one of our great restaurants.”
The market is part of Mountain View’s broader economic vitality efforts. According to the city’s Makers Market FAQ, the pilot aligns with the city’s goal to reduce barriers for small businesses, encourage street-level activation and strengthen Mountain View’s reputation as a regional destination.
Rotella said the idea also connects to the city’s developing public art strategy, which is expected to guide the expansion of Mountain View’s public art program over the next decade.
The pilot comes as the city continues to rethink the future of Castro Street after the pandemic. The first three blocks of Castro Street are already permanently closed to vehicle traffic, and Rotella said the market is one way to help make that change successful.
“COVID was really hard on downtowns,” Rotella said. “There’s been a slow return to work, and there’s just less foot traffic that comes downtown.”
The city is keeping the pilot relatively low-cost. Rotella said vendors will bring their own tables, tents, chairs and booth materials, while the city will spend some economic development funds on marketing and other efforts to create a more active environment.
Because Castro Street is already closed to vehicles, Rotella said the market is expected to cause minimal disruption to traffic and parking. Vendors can park in Lots 3 and 6 and use pedestrian passageways to access Castro Street, though cars are prohibited on the pedestrian mall.
Vendors must have a Mountain View business license and a seller’s permit, according to the application packet. Rotella said economic development staff are available to help applicants through that process. The city will accept applications on a rolling basis through June 24, according to Rotella and the city’s FAQ, and vendors are expected to be confirmed in July.
The city has hosted online informational sessions, which can be viewed on the Mountain View’s Economic Development YouTube.
The city will measure the pilot’s success by looking at community turnout, vendor feedback and whether nearby downtown businesses see increased foot traffic or sales during the series, Rotella said.
Ultimately, she said the goal is to make downtown feel more active, inviting and connected.
“‘Vibrant’ is really the word that comes to mind,” Rotella said. “We want downtown to feel like a place where there is a lot to do, where you want to spend a lot of time.”
