Make Your Mark(et) isn’t just a place to shop—it’s a space to connect. Each piece sold carries a story, each maker a dream. This year, the market returns with more than 75 artists and a “pop-up within a pop-up” concept that brings even more creativity to Westchester, open now at 79 Main Street in Irvington. Founder Melissa Panszi Riebe shares how it all started, what keeps it growing, and why local shopping can be a force for community change.
The Background
Make Your Mark(et) is now in its fourth year. What inspired you to start it, and how has it grown since that first pop-up in New Rochelle?
I walk through the New Rochelle train station regularly, and for years after COVID, there was this empty space just… sitting there. I’d recently done a successful pop-up with other makers, and I kept thinking about that space.
What if instead of one maker, we could bring together 20 local artists? What if we created something that made it ridiculously easy for our neighbors to support local creativity while getting unique holiday gifts?
I figured the worst they could say was no. But they said yes. That first year we were open three weeks. This year? Three months, 75+ makers.
This year’s market features more makers than ever. How do you go about finding and selecting the makers that take part?
First rule? Don’t be a jerk. (ha!) But seriously, the maker community is filled with incredible, collaborative people, and that energy matters when you’re creating a shared space.
As a maker myself, I’m constantly meeting artists and thinking about adding people. It’s a balancing act—I don’t want five soap makers or ten jewelry artists. I want variety that gives shoppers a real discovery experience.
I have to turn down talented people because of timing or space, which is honestly one of the toughest parts of doing this. But I always try to add new voices—this year we have 16 first-time participants. That’s how we keep it fresh.
The ‘pop-up within a pop-up’ lets me feature even more makers for single days or workshops. It’s about creating as many opportunities as possible.
The Shop
The market moves around each year, what has it been like finding and transforming spaces in the Rivertowns for a short-term shop?
Finding the right space is always the most stressful part. You need great foot traffic, a landlord willing to rent for just three months, and a layout that actually works as a store.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate these past few years. The Rivertowns—Hastings-on-Hudson last year, Irvington this year—are the sweet spot. These communities genuinely want to support small businesses, and I’ve found landlords who not only believe in the vision but help make it happen.
I provide all the displays and fixtures, but I absolutely could not do this alone. My family, especially my spouse, show up every year. My friend Dana, a former maker herself, comes to help with visual merchandising. And the makers in the store are there whenever I ask.
It’s this incredible collaboration that transforms an empty space into something special.
We’re about the “pop-up within a pop-up” series, giving other small businesses a chance to share the space. How did that idea come about, and what has the response been like?
I wanted to showcase even more makers, and I have this perfect front room that’s also the front window. When something’s happening there, people walking down the street can see exactly what’s going on.
It’s a mix of everything—some makers are selling finished goods, others are creating live like fresh pasta or custom coasters. Some let shoppers get hands-on, like making their own room sprays and reed diffusers.
It elevates the whole shopping experience into something you can’t get anywhere else, that connection between the maker and the community, whether you’re watching, participating, or just discovering something new.
The Feeling
Each piece in the market comes with a story. Why is it important for you to create a space where shoppers can connect directly with the makers behind their purchases?
When shoppers can connect directly with the makers behind their purchases, the whole experience becomes more meaningful. It’s not just buying a piece of jewelry or art, it’s supporting someone’s dream, their story, their family.
I want my store to represent the world we live in, full of various cultures and stories. As a Latine female, I know what it’s like to not be represented or seen. When people can see themselves reflected in our makers, and understand the real impact their purchase makes on that person’s life, it transforms a simple transaction into something powerful.
That connection—between who made it and who’s buying it—makes everything more meaningful.
What do you hope visitors feel or take away when they step inside Make Your Mark(et) this holiday season?
I want them to feel the positive energy the moment they walk in. Every piece was created by someone who poured their heart into it, and that energy is everywhere.
If you’re having a rough day, I want you to find peace here. To feel like ‘this is my place’ and know you’ll want to come back. I want you to discover something amazing and think ‘this is where I’m doing all my holiday shopping.’
Most importantly, I want everyone to feel welcome. All kinds of people. And when you buy here, you’re keeping your dollars in the community—supporting real people, real dreams.
What’s Next
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of the pop up and the local maker community it brings together?
My hope for the makers is that being part of the store becomes a launching pad … whether that’s collaborating with someone they met here, getting into a permanent local store, or expanding their own brand. I also want them to create new fan bases by being exposed to people they wouldn’t usually be in front of.
For the store itself, I always say I’m a novela—there’s a beginning, middle, and end. I never want to be year-round. Retail is changing, and this is part of that change. I want to keep making it easy for people to have impactful local shopping while getting quality items, and keep making the shopping experience unique and memorable for the community.
I want to continue hearing their stories and having each one become part of that season’s story. The big dream? Taking this model to other places, maybe even back to the Midwest where I grew up.
For now, I hope to keep coming back to the Rivertowns every year. Maybe next year Dobbs Ferry—I haven’t been there yet.