WESTERLY — On a recent Saturday morning in Misquamicut, near Westerly Town Beach, small, colorful tents dotted the expanse of land on Atlantic Avenue between Block Island Sound and Winapug Pond.
The tents were filled with a variety of artists, wellness professionals, bakers, candle makers, hair braiders and dog lovers who were taking part in the inaugural season of the Misquamicut Market and selling their services and wares.
Markets — Historic Naschmarkt This restaurant in Vienna, Austria, is the brainchild of a young local couple with deep Western roots.
Austin Trefes, 24, who opened the market with his fiancée, Autumn Reppert, 24, is the great-grandson of the late Harry Trefes, who founded Atlantic Beach Park and the Windjammer with his wife, the late Julia Trefes, more than 100 years ago.
Austin’s grandfather, the late Elias “Lou” Trefes, was a beloved member of the Westerly community and, along with his late brother, Charles Trefes, kept the Misquamicut family business vibrant and strong.
Austin’s father, Harry Treffes, graduated from Westerly High School in 1981 and then became a pilot for UPS based in Louisville, Kentucky, where he raised his family and met Austin.
Leppert, a doula, yoga teacher and aspiring midwife, and Austin, an engineer for Electric Boat, traveled the world before settling in Westerly.
They traveled to Hawaii, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Austria, where they became fascinated with the idea of a community marketplace.
“We went to a lot of great markets,” Leppert says, “and what was striking to us was the communities that formed around the markets.”
Not only is it popular in Austria, home to the world-famous Naschmarkt with its 120 food stalls, restaurants and colorful cuisines, but it’s also popular in Honolulu, where community marketplaces are popular and plentiful.
“They’re like a little community,” Reppert said. “We came here to open a market.”
“My dad is passing the baton,” Austin added, standing in the entrance to Misquamicut Market’s small office, looking out at the vendors and artists who’ve set up shop on land that once housed the go-karts and mini-golf at Bayview Fun Park. “He gave us a chance.”
“Autumn did most of the work,” he said, smiling at Reppert.
“We’re so lucky,” said Leppert, who teaches prenatal yoga classes on the beach. “We’re so, so lucky.”
“We feel like we were born to be here,” she added. “We love it here.”
She said the plan was to attract “quality” vendors and artists, people who recognise a more natural, “holistic” lifestyle and the importance of recycling and reusing.
“We want to offer beachgoers an unparalleled product and comprehensive service,” said Leppert, who also owns Arancia Physical Therapy in Cranston.
“We’re connecting with the health community,” said Reppert, who was planning an evening event aimed at the local “sober community” with live music and herbal extracts.
Previous vendors who have participated in the Misquamicut Market include certified reflexologist Julianne Eaniello, “Suan’s Myotherapy,” Saltwater Health & Hydration LLC, Waltney’s Seafood, Marianna’s Cookies and Homemade Baked Goods, and a booth called “Pots & Pigments” with Megan Reilly and her handmade pottery and “other beautiful things.”
On a recent weekend morning, inside a tent called Thyme, owners Pam Fusero and Brenda Holmes were setting out a selection of “curated products that promote home, family and wellness,” including candles and colorful cotton dinner napkins.
“‘Time’ is about making time for yourself,” Holmes said, adding that the store is “a collection of products that will enhance your home and promote health and joy.”
“We want to bring joy,” said Fusero, who recently retired from Westerly Public Schools where she worked as a special needs teacher, “and encourage people to take time for themselves.”
“Give them back their time,” she thoughtfully adds, “like enjoying a family meal with handmade napkins.”
“What interested us about Marquette was the coastal feel and connection to our community,” Holmes said in an email.
Elissa Sweet, a Westerly artist and illustrator who sells prints, cards and stickers featuring plants and birds, said she was intrigued when she learned of Trefes and Reppert’s plans and set up a tent at the first market of the season over Memorial Day weekend.
“When I first heard about Misquamicut Market, I was so excited to be a part of my town’s artist community across from my favorite beach,” Sweet said in an email. “It was a wonderful experience meeting all the vendors and chatting with people browsing the market and enjoying the summer breeze.”
Anna Garceau of Westerly Photography Business, Shutter In a Compass, With a mission to “provide high-quality photography at a more accessible and transparent price point,” Sweet’s former Savoy colleague teamed up with Sweet and set up a booth nearby him during the opening weekend of Mystic Market.
“I was drawn to participating in the market because I was excited to showcase local artists and vendors in a way that puts their needs first,” Garceau said in an email. “I’m excited to be part of this community of creatives and have had the pleasure of meeting so many talented, kind, and hard-working vendors through this project.”
Misquamicut Market (332 Atlantic Avenue) will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 8pm during the summer (with “core hours” from 12pm to 4pm). For more information, visit https://www.misquamicutmarket.com/.
