Night Market: It began with a boom box

Beethoven once said “music can change the world.” For Leah Morgan, music changed her career.

Morgan, who has 20 years’ experience as a glass blower, was struck by the lack of music at many markets when she was working as a vendor.

“I started bringing my own speaker to events and fellow vendors and community members were singing along and dancing as they strolled by my booth. It changes the dynamic for people,” Morgan said.

This inspired Morgan, a former bartender who lives in a boat on the Tacoma waterfront, to create her own night market. She started the Tacoma Night Market in December on 2018, and it was an instant hit. Soon after she brought this market to Gig Harbor, where she used to live.

There is local art, dozens of vendors, beer, food, and of course, music.

I started to ask if I were to organize something like this, would people join me,” Morgan said. “It was a universal ‘Hell, yeah!’”

The Gig Harbor Night Market, a year-round event, is held on the first Saturday of every month. On March 2 it will be held at 7 Seas Brewery, 3006 Judson Street. The market is from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., and all ages are welcome.

“It’s family-friendly,” she said. “The market is a perfect date night, girls’ night out or family night. It’s a lot of fun.”

Morgan, 36, had no background in in organizing events, but said she knew what she wanted to see and made it happen.

“I just put in time and hours like anyone starting a business,” Morgan said. “I was married to it, and quit my job of 12 years to focus on the market full time.”

Morgan said her market started off strong, with around 500 people showing up, but has grown exponentially. She said the Gig Harbor Night Market usually has about 35 vendors and attracts up to 5,000 shoppers.

Morgan said she began with only 30 vendors, and now has a list of hundreds to call on in rotation.

“Every month I curate a different mix of designers and makers to keep it fresh for the attendees,” she said.

Morgan said since her market is year round, vendors thrive. It gives them an opportunity to sell their product on a consistent basis, something many seasonal markets cannot provide.

“I’ve had vendors move from Seattle to Tacoma because of the community and the event,” Morgan said.

Morgan said there are many items at her market, from home-made candles to jewelry. She said prices may be higher than big-box stores, but each item was made with home-town love.

“The price can be an awkward moment, but I found music helped ease that moment,” Morgan said.

One vendor is a glass blower, Anthony Remick, who brings a mobile glass studio to the market, giving customers the opportunity to make their own glass object. He charges $40, and walks the customer through each step on how to make a blown-glass object.

“You get to have that experience and keep the item you made,” she said. “It’s a pretty great deal.”

For more information, visit https://www.tacomanightmarket.com.

This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 12:00 AM.