Five years ago, a handful of gazebos popped up at the front of The Junction Retail & Leisure Park in Antrim. The idea was simple; to give makers, bakers, artists and entrepreneurs a place to sell directly to customers and give visitors a reason to linger, shop and discover something new.
The Junction’s Saturday Market is now celebrating its fifth birthday and what started as a modest monthly event has become one of Northern Ireland’s most colourful, welcoming and bustling market communities.
Ask any regular and they’ll tell you the stalls are only part of the magic. It’s the people behind them; their stories, grit and camaraderie that keep visitors coming back.
Ilse and Alanagh are the duo behind Ke Nako Biltong, an award-winning business bringing authentic South African style biltong to Northern Ireland. Ilse, who hails from South Africa and is a trained butcher and chef, works alongside her wife Alanagh, who is most often the friendly face customers meet at the stall.
Markets have played a key role in their journey, giving them the platform to showcase their product and steadily grow their reputation. Ilse explained: “When you move somewhere new, you don’t just miss your home, you miss community. At The Junction Market, we’ve found friendships and support. Other traders check in, share advice, and cheer you on. That sense of community has been just as important as the sales.”
Donna is the creative force behind The Venerable Bead, handcrafting jewellery from precious and semi-precious stones. She first joined the market as a part-time stallholder while still working in early years, but changing family circumstances meant she needed more flexibility in her work.
“Flexibility was key for me,” Donna says. “Markets meant I could earn an income while still being there for my family when they needed me most.”
Recently, Donna was able to take the leap into full-time trading. “The quality of the market, and the support of the customers and the market team here, gave me the confidence to take that step.” she says.
Every market has its characters, and Patricia is one of The Junction’s best-loved. At 65, she’s still hauling gazebos into place before and setting up her stall, Hugable Bears, of intricate crochet work. “People think markets are only for the young, but I love proving them wrong,” Patricia laughs. “It keeps me active, I meet amazing people, and customers love hearing that everything is handmade.”
Alan Burns, a native of Antrim, already ran a successful bakery and catering business, Amber Catering & Cakes, before joining the market. What the market has given him is the chance to scale further, with a steady stream of loyal customers and the opportunity to refine his products through direct conversation with shoppers.
“The market really helped us grow,” Alan says. “It gave us regular customers and the kind of instant feedback you can’t get anywhere else.”
For Alan, having such a vibrant trading opportunity right in his hometown makes the experience even more meaningful. “It’s fantastic to be part of something like this in Antrim,” he adds. “It’s brilliant to have a market of this quality on your doorstep and to have the support of The Junction and Urban Events NI, who are genuinely invested in seeing everyone succeed.
Carolyn, formerly a café operator, first began baking dog biscuits as a quirky extra for her menu. The treats proved so popular that what started as a sideline soon grew into The Woofternoon Tea Company, now her main business creating handmade delights for four-legged foodies.
Markets have been key to that growth, giving her the chance to build a loyal following and connect directly with her customers. “I love seeing returning customers… and their humans! Seeing people love and return for something you’ve made is really addictive.”
What surprises many newcomers to market life is the family-like bond between traders. Stalls may sell everything from chilli sauce to home décor, but behind the tables is a tight-knit network. “You come for the sales, but you stay for the friendships,” says Patricia. “We help each other set up, swap advice, and celebrate each other’s wins.”
For market organisers, this sense of community is no accident. Urban Events NI – in partnership with The Junction – set out to create a space where independent businesses can thrive and connect. “Markets are more than trading places, they’re social hubs as much as economic,” said Thomas Ferris, Managing Director at Urban Events NI. “They’re rooted in community, and when traders support each other and feel supported, customers feel it too.”
At the end of September, the market, which runs on the last Saturday of every month, marked its fifth anniversary with a celebration featuring more than 40 stalls, live music and birthday-themed surprises.
Chris Flynn, Centre Director at The Junction, says the milestone is about more than just retail. “We’re proud that The Junction’s Market has become a space where creativity, resilience and community meet. It’s brought vibrancy here and supported countless small businesses to start and grow.”
Five years in, the market is proof that shopping small can be big – big for traders, big for community, and big for the future of retail in Northern Ireland.
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