Shopping on the street
Photo by Tereasa Nims
Several people stopped at The Chili and Garlic Shop for some salsa samples and to search for hard to find sauces during the 53rd Annual Wyandotte Street Fair. The shop owner, Linda Kuna, left, said business remained steady all day.
By TEREASA NIMS
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE — Eight-year-old Bethany Dillard wasn’t alone Thursday in using a snow cone to beat the heat during the 53rd Annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair.
“I’m going to finish my snow cone and then go climb the rock wall,” Dillard said.
More than 250 artists representing 30 states and Canada are featured at the four-day show that ran from July 9 to 12 and spanned more than six blocks on Biddle Avenue.
In addition to art, there was music, food and a variety of entertainment.
“This is one of the biggest I’ve see,” said Rachel Evans of Detroit. “I come to visit my aunt every year and visit the street fair.”
Evans said this one was impressive.
“Seeing this many people and this many vendors makes me think Michigan is rebounding from a bad economy,” Evans added.
Sam Hogan of River Rouge described it as amazing.
“Glass, jewelry, apparel and novelty items,” Hogan said. “This is one of the best street fairs I’ve been to in a while.”
Sandy Pyke of Wyndotte said she drove around looking for parking until giving up and paying a $5 charge two blocks away, only to walk toward the fair and find an open spot just a few steps from it.
“I come almost every year and,” she said looking around. “It definitely seems bigger this year. It seems like there are more vendors and more people.”
Fellow Wyndotte resident, Cheryl Malinowski, agreed.
“It’s definitely bigger,” she said. “I’ll be tired from all the walking around.”
Vendors weren’t complaining.
“We’re very happy,” said Linda Kuna, who owns and operates The Chili and Garlic Shop, an online store based in Novi, offering an array of hot sauce, salsa, dips, seasonings, peppers, garlic and gift ideas. Their son, Aidan, was helping with the sales.
Linda Kuna said this was their second year vending and they agree, the lines seem longer and the streets seemed fuller.
(Tereasa Nims can be reached at [email protected].)